With a $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), some Michigan families will get assistance making their homes safe from lead poisoning.
The Wayne County Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness (HVCW) is looking for homeowners and tenants with young children under the age of six, or pregnant women to participate in LeadSafe, a hazard control program designed to prevent lead poisoning.
“The goal is to prevent lead exposure to children, particularly with older homes that still contain lead paint that can chip or crumble into dust,” said Carol Austerberry, director of wellness services and deputy health officer at HVCW.
“You can’t tell if a home is contaminated just by looking at it. The only way to be sure if paint contains lead is to have it tested by a qualified professional, which is exactly what this grant will allow us to do for hundreds of Wayne County families.”
You can quality for the program if you:
- Meet income eligibility requirements
- The home or rental property is in Wayne County and built before 1978, is structurally sound, and has a least one bedroom. This excludes homes within the city of Detroit. Homes within the city of Detroit are under the jurisdiction of the Detroit Health Department.
- There are children under six years of age or pregnant women living in the home, or there are visiting young children in the home at least 6 hours per week/10 weeks per year.
- In order to track improvements in blood lead levels after remediation is complete, an initial blood lead level for each child is necessary. Thus, each child under six years of age must have a current blood lead test to be considered. Capillary blood tests can be performed by a family doctor or at the Wayne County Health clinic at 33030 Van Born, Wayne, MI 48174. Children who are WIC recipients may also have a blood test performed at the Family Health Center at 26650 Eureka Road, Taylor, MI 48180.
For more information on how to apply for this program, call (734) 727-2215 or visit the Wellness Division of the Wayne County Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness at 33030 Van Born Road, East Wing, Wayne, Michigan, 48184.
