On Monday, The City of Cleveland Department of Community Develops received a $9.7 million grant to aid the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) program.
The LHR program aims to reduce lead hazards in homes and prevent childhood lead poisoning.
The program targets Cleveland homes with children under the age of six. With the help of the grant, the homes will undergo a comprehensive plan that includes lead poisoning prevention, weatherization, energy conservation and rehabilitation in the homes of the City’s most at risk, low-income residents.
Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood is a primary focus of the grant. The area has historical levels of lead poising, the city said in a release Monday.
The area consists of 67% of pre-1940 housing units, 8 percent of children under 6 and 70 percent low income families.
“I welcome this federal grant aimed at the Glenville neighborhood which has been heavily impacted by lead contamination,” said Councilman Kevin Conwell who represents the Glenville area.
In July 2019, legislation was passed that requires all landlords of pre-1978 rentals to achieve lead safe status.
In all, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $45 million to Ohio to identify and eliminate lead paint in homes.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine says the grants will help make Ohio homes safer.
Grants are going to Columbus, Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Lima as well as Cuyahoga, Erie, Mahoning, and Summit counties. The sizes of the awards range from $2 million for Lima to $9.7 million for Cleveland.
The city of Canton received $3.3 million, according to a release from the city.
DeWine announced plans in March to promote lead screening, increase early intervention services and expand the number of lead workers and contractors. DeWine announced the formation of a state Lead Advisory Committee earlier this month.