HUD funding granted for lead hazards in Akron and Cleveland

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Peeling paint inside and out of older homes is a primary source of lead exposure for children.

The Plain Dealer recently reported on HUD grants totaling $6.6 million that will be used to assess and clean 470 housing units located in Cleveland and Akron.

With $3.3 million going to each city, the clean up efforts will be a significant step for Cleveland, as it has not received HUD funding for lead abatement in almost three years.

This funding will bring the greatest relief to children living in these homes, as lead poses the greatest threat to young children.

As stated in The Plain Dealer, “In the city of Cleveland, of the 14,389 children screened for lead in 2013, about 1,900 had levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's threshold of 5 micrograms per deciliter of blood. More than 700 children had lead levels higher than 10 micrograms per deciliter, and 44 children had levels higher than 25 micrograms per deciliter.”

These HUD grants demonstrate a step to rectify this significant problem, with the ultimate goal of eliminating lead exposure throughout the cities. There is still much work to be done, as it is estimated that thousands of homes still pose potential risks for lead exposure, the greatest threat being homes built before 1978.