Somerville is one of only 12 communities nationwide to receive the grant; Funds will continue city’s Lead Hazard Abatement Program

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The Housing Division of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development announced today that it has received a grant in the amount of $1,876,179 from the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program (LHRD), a federally funded grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.  The City of Somerville is one of only 12 communities nationwide, and one of only three in Massachusetts to receive the grant.

“By awarding these grants, HUD has recognized the outstanding program design and efforts of the administration and OSPCD staff,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.  “This grant will be a step forward in our constant efforts to ensure the safety of our children, particularly by abating lead-based paint hazards in the homes of low-moderate income residents who otherwise would not be able to afford it.”

“HUD recognized the high risk of lead poisoning for the children of our community and understood the importance of implementing both primary prevention strategies and direct hazard reduction methods to combat the effects of this silent and dangerous poison,” said Phil Ercolini, Director of the City’s Housing Division.  “This grant award will provide the necessary funding to continue the work of the Somerville Lead Hazard Abatement Program that began in 2001, and to implement even more effective outreach and educational programs with a wide array of city-wide and regional partner organizations.

The City will continue outreach efforts with a goal of abating more than 120 privately owned properties within the City of Somerville.

Though lead poisoning is a preventable disease, it affects young children, often with disastrous results. The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible and can lead to permanent impairments including hearing loss and learning disabilities.  This grant will empower OSPCD’s Division of Housing to play a major role in the prevention and treatment of childhood lead poisoning in our community.

For more information on the City’s Lead Hazard Abatement program, please contact Daniel Hauck, Lead Hazard Abatement Program Manager at 617-625-6600 ext. 2587.