The Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning announced $1.2 million in federal grants to fund emergency housing for children at risk of lead poisoning, as well as education and outreach programs.
“This money will allow us to address the key environmental health threats in a child?s home that can be the difference between that child being sick or healthy. This will start us down a path to simultaneously reduce lead and asthma triggers in Baltimore?s homes,” said Ruth Ann Norton, executive director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning.
The grants will enable the Coalition to deliver lead- and asthma-related services to Baltimore residents while developing model programs that can be replicated in other areas. In partnership with Baltimore City and Housing Choice, the coalition will set aside 75 vouchers for families of lead-poisoned children.
“Lead paint and asthma-related illnesses are things we can do something about, and are one of the top priorities,” City Councilwoman Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said at an announcement at Calverton Elementary/Middle School Tuesday.
The Coalition received a Healthy Homes Demonstration Grant for $1,000,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development?s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.
The money will fund direct intervention in the homes of more than 250 Baltimore children already struggling with controlling asthma to provide education, services and relief. Another 5,000 city residents, health care providers, realtors and housing inspectors will receive education on the benefits of a healthy home, and ways to maintain their homes.
The coalition also received more than $243,000 in a Community-Based Lead Outreach and Training Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. They will share the funding with the Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation and Coppin State University. The “Stoppin? Lead in Coppin” campaign will try to reach everyone in that community with information about the risks and remedies for lead.
