HUD Awards $226M to Protect Families from Home Health Hazards

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $226 million to state, county, city and tribal governments, as well as to non-profit organizations, in an effort to protect children and families from home health hazards. This funding was awarded to entities across 33 states, four tribes, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

“By providing these grants, HUD makes it clear that making homes healthy and safe is a priority for communities,” said Matthew Ammon, director of the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. “HUD is committed to protecting families from the effects of unhealthy housing and to improving the health and economic stability of communities.”

The funding aims to support increasing local capacity for conducting lead hazard control and additional healthy homes interventions, developing local workforces by training and hiring housing renovation and repair contractors and housing hazard assessment professionals, and researching efficient methods for identifying and addressing housing-related hazards.

“We commend the efforts of our public and nonprofit partners as we seek to make homes safer,” said Adrianne Todman, agency head of HUD. “These grants fund programs and research will improve health, build community capacity, support older adults and strengthen housing affordability.”

HUD made these awards under four of its grant programs, which are listed below.

Helping Seniors Live Independently & Safely in their Homes

HUD awarded more than $109 million to 67 state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations under its Older Adults Home Modification Program. The grantees intend to modify the homes of senior renters and homeowners through maintenance and repair projects, based on findings in the homes by certified occupational therapists and other professionals of fall and other housing hazards that could result in the seniors not being able to continue living at home. One-third of the funds was awarded to grantees that serve communities with substantial rural populations.

Addressing Multiple Home Health Hazards Comprehensively

HUD awarded more than $93 million to 52 state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations under its Healthy Homes Production grant program, in an effort to enable the grantees to address multiple housing-related hazards in the homes of families at the same time, instead of doing so one hazard at a time. The program seeks to help children and other vulnerable residents prevent injuries and diseases, lower health care costs and improve their overall quality of life.

Protecting Young Children & Other Family Members from Lead Poisoning

HUD awarded more than $12 million to two local government agencies under its Lead Hazard Reduction grant program, as well as over $2 million to four government agencies to address other housing health and safety issues. In addition to its direct effects in homes being treated, this program aims to transform communities by fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing and improving communities and the health of their children and families.

Understanding the Effects of Housing-Related Hazards & How to Control the Hazards

HUD awarded approximately $9 million to nine research institutions under its Healthy Homes Technical Studies grant program. The studies funded by these grants aim to enhance the understanding of the long-term effects of housing interventions to address lead and other housing hazards, including those related to injury risks, asthma triggers and poor indoor air quality.