Question: Why the concern about lead?

Answer: Lead is toxic to people of all ages when taken into the body by ingestion or inhalation. Lead is most hazardous to children under the age of six, whose still-developing nervous systems are most impacted by lead and whose play and normal hand-to-mouth activities expose them to lead-contaminated dust and soil. More than three-quarters of housing units built before 1978 are believed to contain some lead-based paint. The most likely location to find lead-based paint is on painted wood components. Lead-based paint hazards are likely to occur when housing is in poor condition or unsafe work practices are used during maintenance and renovation. These practices create lead-contaminated dust and soil.

 

Question: What is the Lead Hazard Control Program?

Answer: CSD received a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide funds for lead hazard control in low-income, privately owned housing. These funds are combined with weatherization funds and are targeted to housing with low-income families having a target aged child (under the age of six). Housing which has surfaces with lead-based paint which will be disturbed during weatherization are selected for the program. A full evaluation for all lead-based paint hazards is conducted and a community-based organization completes the weatherization and lead hazard control work in a lead-safe manner. All families in housing that is evaluated also receive lead poisoning prevention education and written materials. Also, the target aged children receive a blood lead level screening.

 

Question: Who is eligible?

Answer: The Lead Hazard Control Program operates in six counties that have over 50% of the low-income families in California. The counties include: Humboldt, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Sutter, and Yuba. Single and multifamily housing occupied by lower-income families are eligible for the program. At least one child under the age of six must reside at the property. Priority is given to housing constructed before 1950. Also, any housing with a child, which has been identified having an elevated blood-lead level by the local Health Department, is eligible for the program.

 

Question: Who can be contacted for assistance?

Answer: For further information on the LEAD Hazard Control Program for your county, contact:

• Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba - Community Resource Project (916) 567-5220
• Humboldt - Redwood Community Action Agency (707) 269-2001
• San Bernardino - San Bernardino County Community Services and Development (909) 723-1500
• Los Angeles - Maravilla Foundation (323) 869-4500

For information on hiring local certified lead professional contact the California Department of Health Services at 1-800-597-LEAD.

 

For additional information resources on lead, contact The National Lead Information Clearinghouse, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323),  the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Lead Hazard Control at (202) 755-1785 or the National Center for Lead-Safe Housing at (410) 992-0712.