Virtual Town Hall on June 29 to Discuss Home Lead-based Paint-removal Funds

SPRINGFIELD — The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) and the city of Springfield are inviting Springfield homeowners and landlords to a virtual town hall, “Deleading Springfield: A Town Hall on Resources and Improving Health for All,” on Tuesday, June 29 at 5 p.m. The event will inform residents about significant funding in the form of grants and forgivable loans available for lead hazard-control and abatement projects.

Those interested in participating in this free and informative town hall can register online at bit.ly/leadtownhall. The event will be livestreamed by Focus Springfield Community Television. Spanish captions will be available on the livestream.

The event will feature a panel that includes representatives from the city and PHIWM, community health experts who will discuss the hazards of lead and DIY lead abatement, and homeowners who will provide testimonials of utilizing the lead-abatement program. Those who attend will also learn about eligibility and the process of applying for available funds.

The Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Program provides funds to Springfield residents in the form of grants to single-family homeowners and forgivable loans for investor-owned properties. The city procures a licensed lead-abatement contractor for the work to be done and manages the project from start to finish, assisting the homeowner in overseeing completion. Work will result in a letter of full deleading compliance.

For owner-occupied single-family homes, grants are given to approved applicants for lead abatement. For investor-owned properties, approved landlord applicants are given funding in the form of zero-interest, forgivable loans. The homeowner must remain in the home or continue to rent to qualified families for at least three years after work is completed.

The lead-abatement program aims to remove lead from homes with children under the age of 6, and is available to homeowners and landlords as long as the tenants for the units qualify. Information on the program can be accessed by calling (413) 787-6500 or visiting springfield-ma.gov.

Lead paint is a major health hazard, especially for young children. Springfield is one of the highest-risk communities in Massachusetts for lead poisoning, based on the number of children identified as having elevated blood lead levels; the percentage of families living below 200% of their poverty threshold; and the percentage of housing built before 1978. The Massachusetts Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program assesses a community’s risk level annually.

The city-wide lead-abatement program is made possible through grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the city of Springfield in order to create affordable, lead-safe, and healthy housing in the city to maximize the number of young children protected from lead poisoning.

To qualify for these lead-abatement funds, the homeowners for single-family homes, or tenants of investor-owned properties, must be income-eligible and have a child under 6 years of age or a pregnant woman residing in the unit or home.