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Kaptur Announces $5.7 Million Federal Award to Help Toledo Curb Lead Paint Exposure and Housing Safety Hazards Among Children and Families

September 21, 2020

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), released the following statement announcing that the City of Toledo has been awarded $5,700,000 in federal funding to mitigate exposure to lead based paint and other housing-related health and safety hazards among children and families in the Toledo community. $5,000,000 is being administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR), which works to protect children from lead exposure. $700,000 is being administered by HUD's Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI), which works to protect children from housing-related health and safety hazards. HUD will announce the award on Friday.

"As the dual COVID-19 public health and economic crises continue to ravage our city and our nation, I am pleased to announce these critically needed funds that will help boost housing rehabilitation efforts in Toledo neighborhoods and keep children and their families safe," said Rep. Kaptur. "The pandemic has demonstrated the overlap between socio-economic status and health outcomes, particularly for communities of color. Safe, lead-free and accessible housing is critically needed to increase resilience and boost long-term health outcomes, especially for children. These funds will be a key step forward to save lives from the scourge of lead poisoning."

"The City of Toledo is thrilled that Rep. Kaptur was able to secure these badly needed funds for our community," Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. "This money will be put to use fighting lead poisoning in our neighborhoods, and it is not an exaggeration to say that lives will be saved because of it."

The City of Toledo, Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is targeting the 41 census tracts listed below as it contains high concentrations of both pre-1940 housing and low-income families. Additionally, area shows consistent evidence of elevated blood lead levels within the jurisdiction reported to the state that are significantly higher than the state average. The DON and its partners will make 175 housing units within the city of Toledo lead -safe (140 of which will include Healthy Homes), ensuring that children under the age of 6 have a lead-safe environment in which to grow up healthy. All children under the age of six residing in homes enrolled in the program will be screened for blood lead levels, and those identified with elevated blood lead levels will receive case management from the Toledo Lucas County Regional Health Department. In addition to these activities, the City and its partners will hold community outreach seminars, participate in community health fairs and community festivals, conduct Lead and Healthy Homes media campaigns and distribute lead prevention and healthy homes education materials to inform the general public about our lead/healthy homes program. As the City of Toledo's Lead Hazard Reduction Program Grant application for 2020 includes a request for supplemental funding for Healthy Housing intervention, the City of Toledo will incorporate Healthy Homes strategies as a part of all of the programs lead trainings and outreach efforts.

Census tracts: 4.00, 8.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.02, 13.02, 4.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00, 22.00, 24.01, 24.02, 25.00, 28.00, 29.00, 30.00, 31.00, 32.00, 33.00, 35.00, 36.0.0, 37.00, 39.00, 40.00, 42.00, 44.00, 46.00, 47.01, 47.02, 48.00, 50.00, 51.00, 53.00, 54.00, 68.00, 73.03, 74.00, 85.00, and 103.00.

kaptur.house.gov

Issues:Health Care