$14.8M in HUD grants will help state reduce lead dangers in housing stock

File Photo / Lewiston-Auburn Lead Program Lewiston will receive a total of $5.2 million in federal funding for lead abatement. The Lewiston-Auburn area has the highest rate of lead poisoning in the state.

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By Staff

Maine will get $14.8 million in federal grants to help reduce the danger of lead-based paint and other lead hazards in its housing stock.

The grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used to make homes safer for more than 750 families in communities including Biddeford, Lewiston and Portland, according to a news release Friday.

The money is part of $290 million recently appropriated by Congress to combat lead hazards.

Lead poisoning is one of the major environmental health threats for children in Maine, according to a state legislative report published in January. In young children, exposure to lead causes brain damage that can result in learning and behavioral problems.

Most of the poisoning results from exposure to dust from lead paint found in Maine’s old housing stock — 69% of Maine children with lead poisoning live in rental housing.

The HUD funding includes awards to four Maine recipients.

Biddeford will get $2.9 million in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $299,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The city will address lead hazards in 135 housing units for low-income families with children, and perform assessments in 130 units.
Lewiston will get $4.6 million in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $600,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The city will address lead hazards in 280 housing units low-income families with children, and perform health assessments in 250 units.

MaineHousing, the state’s housing authority, will get $3.2 million in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $600,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The authority will address lead hazards in 240 housing units for low-income families with children, and perform assessments in 180 units.

Portland will get $2 million in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $500,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The city will address lead hazards in 100 housing units for low-income families with children, and perform assessments in 100 units.

“Lead poisoning poses a severe threat to human health, especially to children and pregnant women,” said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who chairs the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee. “Lead poisoning is a preventable health problem, and we are making progress. These grants are a significant step forward in our efforts to eradicate this health threat.”

In July, Healthy Androscoggin, a public-health affiliate of Central Maine Healthcare, received a $25,000 lead poisoning prevention grant from the National Center for Healthy Housing, one of only nine made nationwide.