Grants available to remove lead hazards from your home
11/01/2010
If you're worried that you might have lead hazards in your home - especially lead-based paint that might be flaking and threatening your children's health - Hennepin County's Lead Control Program can provide a free grant, if you're eligible, to replace windows and remove other sources of toxic lead.
Lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental health threat to children and affects more than one million children every day. It's estimated that in 2010 there will be 800-1,200 children under age 6 with elevated blood lead levels in Hennepin - the majority of them in Minneapolis. Lead poisoning can cause significant neurological, cognitive and other physical and mental damage, particularly in young children, including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental and growth delays, damaged hearing and behavioral problems that make it harder for children to concentrate or do well in school. At higher levels, lead can damage a child's kidneys and central nervous system and cause anemia, coma, convulsions and even death. Health problems caused by lead poisoning often have no obvious symptoms and can be irreversible.
Lead can come from a variety of sources - primarily in chipping or peeling paint manufactured before 1978. But lead also can be present in toys, jewelry, and lead dust in the air, yards and play areas. Children can even be exposed if a parent works in a place that contains high lead levels, such as an auto body shop. Lead poisoning is completely preventable if parents and other caregivers know how to protect their children from lead.
The Hennepin Housing, Community Works and Transit Department administers lead grants to protect children from exposure to lead-based paint hazards. The county arranges lead abatement testing and evaluation, and contracts with neighborhood partners to do home lead removal (replacing windows, stabilizing other surfaces, etc.).
Lead home inspections are free. But to qualify for a grant to remove lead hazards: Both owner-occupied and rental units are eligible if they are in Hennepin County, were built before 1978, have old windows, and are occupied by a household with income below 80 percent of median income. If owner-occupied, the property must have children under age 6 either living there or frequently visiting. For info call 612-348-2020 or 612-348-2114, or go to www.hennepin.us/leadcontrol.