By Ellen H. King
May 24, 2004

For the second consecutive year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program — a $50 million FY'04 grant program to assist cities and counties with lead hazard reduction. Grants will be distributed in the amount of $2 to $4 million to each qualifying city and county. The announcement was made May 14 and the application deadline is July 13.

Through this demonstration program, cities are to use grant monies to remediate lead hazards in privately owned housing units and multi-family low-income buildings. A minimum of 90 percent of grant funds must be used for abatement, inspections, risk assessments, temporary relocations and interim control of lead-based hazards. Additionally, cities and counties must have 7,000 or more pre-1940 housing units in their jurisdiction to be eligible for demonstration grants. Last year, twenty-two U.S. cities received funds to develop primary prevention policies that would effectively prevent the most significant number of children from exposure to lead hazards.

The United States Conference of Mayors and its Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP) partner, DuPont, have been supportive of this demonstration program. Their support, which included Conference policy resolutions, was instrumental in the formation of the program. Both Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (MO) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD) understood the broad support in our cities for making children's environments lead safe and provided the necessary money to fund the program

The Centers for Disease control calls lead poisoning the number one most preventable environmental hazard in the United States. Elevated blood lead levels in young children can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and in extreme cases severe neurological damage. Data showing that one in five African American children living in older homes have elevated blood lead levels is of great concern. Children on Medicaid, meaning they live near or below poverty levels, are disproportionately at risk.

Governments who received grants in 2003 may submit applications and receive FY'04 grants if they demonstrate that the previously received funds, and additional HUD funds received in FY'04, can be used concurrently in an effective program.

For further information on the $50 million FY'04 HUD grant program, visit the HUD website www.hud.gov/grants or www.grants.gov