Background:
History: Since 2003, Hennepin County has been awarded ten lead-based paint grants totaling over $33.2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants have provided funds for the testing of over 5,594 housing units and the creation of over 4,596 lead-safe units directly benefiting the more than 3,869 children under the age of six years who called those units home as well as all the new children who moved into those now safe units. Additionally, over 1,161 property owners, maintenance people, and contractors were trained in lead-safe work practices.
Continuing this success, the county was awarded a 2017 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant that will facilitate the testing of at least 350 housing units and create at least 300 lead-safe housing units.The county was joined in this application by St. Paul/Ramsey County Department of Public Health, Sustainable Resources Center, and other community and rehabilitation partners.
Highlights of the 2017 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Award include the following:
Geographic targeting of grant resources based on a census tract level risk analysis performed by the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Outreach and education, including in-home visits for families of newborns, to be performed by community-based nonprofits.
- Expanded healthy homes initiative budget line item ($400,000) for non-lead based paint hazards such as radon mitigation, mold remediation and other health-related home repairs.
- Economic opportunities for small neighborhood contractors through abatement training scholarships and bidding opportunities on grant funded lead hazard reduction projects.
Current Request: This request is for authorization to negotiate Agreement 177668 with HUD accepting Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant funds in the total amount of $3,400,000, for the period September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2020.
Impact/Outcomes: Approval of this request will create at least 300 lead-safe housing units in Hennepin and Ramsey counties over the next three years.
APEX Grant ID CON000000000607