Peoria County, Ill., has been awarded $5.6 million in lead-abatement and home-safety grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Peoria Journal Star reports. The funding for the county represents almost half of the federal grant money awarded to the state of Illinois to identify lead-paint hazards and eliminate them from homes.
Administrators at the health department have used HUD dollars well in past efforts at lead abatement. Since efforts are ongoing, there are currently about 100 houses on the waiting list for lead abatement services, said Monica Hendrickson, administrator of the Peoria City/County Health Department (PCCHD).
“Since 2007 our agency has sought funding to assist in addressing lead and home health hazards that affect not only children and families, but the community at large,” said Hendrickson. “The Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes grant by HUD will be the largest our agency has received... To date, we have received $12 million thru federal and state and local funds, that have helped us with 889 properties, with more than 800 children benefiting from our work. The new $5.6 million will allow us in the next few years to work on another 380 homes impacting hundreds of children here in our community.”
At the top of the list are the homes of children who have tested positive for elevated lead levels.
“Part of Illinois state law requires that children are routinely tested, as early as 12-months-old, for lead,” said Hendrickson. “When they are identified as having a high blood level, of five or greater, they are referred back to the health department to do follow up nursing assessment as well as environmental assessment.”
Read More
