Homes in Youngtown, Tolleson, Gila Bend and Guadalupe will benefit from a federal grant that aims at reducing the number of children who get sick in their homes due to poisoning from lead-based paints.

According to a release, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved $1.8 million in federal grant money to be administered by the Human Services Department.  The money will go toward reducing the risk of lead poisoning in four targeted communities in Maricopa County.

The program begins in January.

“We know that nearly 200 children in our county had elevated levels of lead in their blood in 2017. We can do something about this,” stated Supervisor Steve Gallardo, District 5, which includes Gila Bend, Guadalupe and Tolleson. “The Maricopa County Human Services Department has been able to narrow down the high-needs areas in the county where these kids and families live, and the money we approved today will be entirely dedicated to making homes in those areas safer and families in those areas healthier.”

This fall, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded over $314 million to state and local government agencies to protect children from lead-based paint and home health hazards.

The Maricopa County Human Services Department is choosing to spend its nearly $2 million grant in Tolleson, Gila Bend, Guadalupe, and Youngtown because of the high concentration of older homes, low-income residents, and children.

According to a release, each area has at least one ZIP code that has been identified by the Arizona Department of Health Services as a High-Risk Lead Poisoning ZIP Code.

“We’ve already had great success reducing lead-based paint hazards in our community,” said Bruce Liggett, director of the Maricopa County Human Services Department. “With this new funding from HUD, we can expand our reach, going into places we know are high-risk and make improvements that can greatly improve health outcomes for some of our most vulnerable residents.”

Human Services plans to use the grant money for the following activities on owner-occupied or rental homes:

• 120 units will receive risk assessment and lead testing
• 65 units will receive lead remediation work
• 65 units will receive a Health Homes inspection and have identified hazards remediated
• 65 children under the age of six will receive blood lead level screening

To qualify for the Lead Safe program, a homeowner or renter must meet the following criteria:

• Housing is in Gila Bend, Guadalupe, Tolleson, and Youngtown
• Housing was built before 1978
• Housing is a single-family home OR an apartment complex with less than 15 units 
• A child under 6 or a pregnant woman lives in the home OR a child under 6 visits at least 3 hours a day on 2 separate days a week
• Household’s total income is at or below 80% Area Median Income

Grant dollars will also be used for community education and training for contractors.

For more information or to apply for the program, visit the county website or email Lead-Safe@Maricopa.gov.