Public Health & Recreation

Providence Secures $6.5 Million Grant for Lead Poisoning Prevention

Share

PROVIDENCE — The city was recently awarded a $6.5 million federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to support its ongoing commitment to remove lead from homes.

The grant will fund lead hazard reduction initiatives in older homes throughout the city, which are disproportionately affected by lead-based paint, a leading cause of childhood lead poisoning. Providence, with an outsized stock of aging homes, faces challenges in combating this serious health issue, according to city officials.

“Lead poisoning is a preventable tragedy, and with this grant, we can target the most at-risk communities, provide essential resources for our neighbors and protect the well-being of our children,” Mayor Brett Smiley said.

Lead poisoning is a critical public health issue, especially in cities like Providence, where many homes were built before the federal ban on lead-based paint in 1978. Lead exposure can cause serious and irreversible health issues, including developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral challenges.

The federal grant will be used to fund a multipronged approach, including: free comprehensive lead-based paint inspections at eligible properties; forgivable lending to owner-occupied and investor-owned properties to eliminate identified lead hazards; grant funding to address related “healthy housing” repairs, such as mold or asbestos, found during inspections; and sponsoring free lead worker trainings and certifications to expand the qualified construction workforce in Providence.

Join the Discussion

View Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your support keeps our reporters on the environmental beat.

Reader support is at the core of our nonprofit news model. Together, we can keep the environment in the headlines.

cookie