The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) and Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) requests City Council approval of a grant application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and commitment of CDBG funds from HCDD for use as a match for the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program.
HDHHS also requests City Council to authorized the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements and documents with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds, as awarded, and to apply for and accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the grant.
The period of performance for this grant is from August 1, 2015 through July 31, 2018. HDHHS has received federal funding since 1997 to operate a cost-effective program to reduce the danger of childhood lead poisoning by reducing children's exposure to lead- based paint. Activities include paint stabilization, enclosure of child-accessible surfaces, and component replacement of friction and impact surfaces, such as windows and doors. The principal goals of the demonstration grant are:
1. To maximize the combination of children protected from lead-based paint exposure and pre-1978 owner/rental housing units with residential turnover rates >45% per 15 month period.
2. To further promote fair housing and environmental justice by developing and maintaining a public environmental Safe Housing Registry for the city of Houston.
3. Maximize the combination of lead hazard reduction and energy consumption reduction in all houses receiving lead hazard reduction in the city of Houston.
This collaborative effort between the HDHHS and 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 approximately 200 units by state lead licensed and certified contractors.