Alternative 2: Lead-Based Paint Abatement Program
The second policy alternative is the creation of an LBP abatement program. LBP is primarily found in housing built before LBP was banned in 1978, but especially in housing built before 1950. A 2006 analysis found that “90% of lead-poisoned [Wisconsin] children lived in housing built prior to 1950.” This program would seek to address the risk presented to low-income Watertown children by the city’s old housing stock. Of the 3,435 pre-1950 homes in the city, roughly 1,224 are occupied by low-income families (See Appendix C). As the city would apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program would be structured to meet the requirements of HUD’s Lead-Based …show more content…
HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program requires that, for housing occupied by the owner, the family must be low-income, defined as “at or below 80 percent of the area median income level.” Rental housing is eligible when “at least 50 percent of the units must be occupied by or made available to” families who are very low-income, defined as “at or below 50 percent of the area median income level.” The remaining units must be occupied by or made available to low-income families. Priority would be given to units occupied by a lead-poisoned child, a child under 6 years old, or a pregnant woman. In this way, the limited funds will be awarded to the neediest …show more content…
It is difficult to predict how many children would see reduced BLLs or by how much overall BLLs could fall. There is evidence that abating household lead-based paint lowers BLLs in children, but the exact amount depends on the abatement methods used, the child’s age, the season in which the blood samples are tested, and how high the child’s BLL initially was. It is far easier to estimate how this alternative would increase the number of houses meeting lead dust clearance levels. Using information from about the programs established by the 2016 recipients of HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program, it is estimated that Watertown could remove LBP hazards in 121 homes (See Appendix D). These programs are appropriate references because the grant is so specific on how the program should be implemented, and the estimate was calculated based only on programs that were in their first year. All homes served through the grant would meet lead dust federal clearance
The second policy alternative is the creation of an LBP abatement program. LBP is primarily found in housing built before LBP was banned in 1978, but especially in housing built before 1950. A 2006 analysis found that “90% of lead-poisoned [Wisconsin] children lived in housing built prior to 1950.” This program would seek to address the risk presented to low-income Watertown children by the city’s old housing stock. Of the 3,435 pre-1950 homes in the city, roughly 1,224 are occupied by low-income families (See Appendix C). As the city would apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program would be structured to meet the requirements of HUD’s Lead-Based …show more content…
HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program requires that, for housing occupied by the owner, the family must be low-income, defined as “at or below 80 percent of the area median income level.” Rental housing is eligible when “at least 50 percent of the units must be occupied by or made available to” families who are very low-income, defined as “at or below 50 percent of the area median income level.” The remaining units must be occupied by or made available to low-income families. Priority would be given to units occupied by a lead-poisoned child, a child under 6 years old, or a pregnant woman. In this way, the limited funds will be awarded to the neediest …show more content…
It is difficult to predict how many children would see reduced BLLs or by how much overall BLLs could fall. There is evidence that abating household lead-based paint lowers BLLs in children, but the exact amount depends on the abatement methods used, the child’s age, the season in which the blood samples are tested, and how high the child’s BLL initially was. It is far easier to estimate how this alternative would increase the number of houses meeting lead dust clearance levels. Using information from about the programs established by the 2016 recipients of HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program, it is estimated that Watertown could remove LBP hazards in 121 homes (See Appendix D). These programs are appropriate references because the grant is so specific on how the program should be implemented, and the estimate was calculated based only on programs that were in their first year. All homes served through the grant would meet lead dust federal clearance