Lancaster receives $7.75 million HUD grant to support citywide Lead Hazard Control Program

Lancaster receives $7.75 million HUD grant to support citywide Lead Hazard Control Program

The City of Lancaster Office of Healthy Homes recently received $7.75 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding to continue its Lead Hazard Control Program citywide. The news coincides with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, emphasizing the importance of reducing lead hazards in homes with young children.

The new funds will support lead inspections and remediation for about 300 homes, creating lead-safe homes across the city. Priority will be given to neighborhoods south of King Street and other targeted areas due to the age of housing and the presence of young children. Funding is limited to low- to moderate-income households below 80% area median income, which for Lancaster is $84,000 for a family of four.

In 2019, the City was awarded a five-year, $9.7 million HUD grant to remediate 435 homes in certain census tracts south of King Street. Over 300 homes have been completed, with about $1 million left to meet the goal by May 2025.

This funding, along with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, enables the City to offer free lead hazard control for tenants and homeowners, with landlords contributing 10% of remediation costs. Funding from the DOH is earmarked for homes where children with lead-poisoning have been identified.

"Lancaster's 2019 HUD lead paint remediation grant was transformative for the city. Over 300 homes South of King Street are now lead-safe. I am deeply proud of this work and grateful for the team behind it at City Hall. Removing lead paint hazards so our kids can stay healthy and reach their highest potential remains a top priority for my administration. The new $7.75M grant will help power this essential work into the future," said Mayor Danene Sorace.

The Office of Healthy Homes also runs two other programs: the Healthy Homes Program, which addresses health and safety hazards such as accessibility and the Critical Repair Program, which provides emergency repairs to prevent displacement in owner-occupied homes

For more information, contact the Office of Healthy Homes at 717- 291-4730 or [email protected].