O 2020-0216 ORDINANCE providing for a cash match; approving and authorizing the submission of a grant application to the U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) and the acceptance of the award for the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program (the “Grant”) for the Houston Health Department and the Housing and Community Development Department; declaring the City’s eligibility for such Grant; authorizing the Director of the Houston Health Department (“Director”) to act as the City’s representative in the application process; authorizing the Director to accept the Grant award and expend the Grant Funds, as awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the Grant

The Houston Health Department (HHD) and Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) request City Council approval of a grant application to and acceptance of a grant award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and commitment of HCDD’s CDBG funds for use as a match for the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program. The period of performance is from January 2, 2020 through December 31, 2024 for a total budget cost of $11,156,000.00 which includes the commitment of $1,456,000.00 in CDBG matching funds.

HHD also requests City Council to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City’s representative with the authority to accept and expend all subsequent supplemental awards, and to sign and extend the term, not to exceed five years, of any subsequent contract(s), if extended and offered by HUD during the performance period. 

HHD’s Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program in collaboration with HCDD will provide outreach, education, training, relocation, and environmental hazards reduction for lead in low to moderate income housing units.  Lead hazard reduction will be performed on 450 units by subcontracting with state-certified contractors.

The principal goals of the demonstration grant are:

     1.    To reduce the risks of lead paint exposure for children living in pre-

            1978 residences (owner occupied or rentals) currently occupied or

            vacant. 

     2.   To further promote fair housing and environmental justice by

           developing and maintaining a public Environmental Safe Housing

           Registry, for the City of Houston. 

HHD adopted lead poisoning prevention as a priority for community education and outreach. Grant staff will participate in federal, state, county and local committees to identify the needs of the program and to recommend further actions for making Houston a lead-safe city.

______________________________           

Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A.    

Director, Houston Health Department                

$11,156,000.00

Federal Government - Grant Fund

Fund 5000

Porfirio Villarreal

Telephone: 832-393-5041