City to request $3 million in lead funds

Within the next few days, the City of Cincinnati plans to make a formal request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of $3 million in lead abatement grant funds.

The funds, which come from HUD's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control program, were awarded to the Health Department in September as part of a $143 million disbursement to 65 programs in 23 states.

The City plans to use the money to remove lead paint from more than 200 housing units, with the focus being pre-1978, privately-owned homes with lead-poisoned children.

Rehabilitation will include the removal of paint and lead-containing structural components.

Some of the money will also be used for blood-lead screenings, training for property owners in the elimination of lead and the recruitment of neighborhood residents as lead abatement workers.

The City has until 2010 to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's goal of eliminating lead poisoning.

No date has been established for the release of the funds.