The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued an overall performance rating of 100 out of 100 for the Peoria City/County Health Department Lead Hazard Control grant program. HUD assessed the first and second quarter performance of the three-year program based on progress in meeting established benchmarks for lead hazard control in the community. Both quarters received the 100 rating.
The County’s Lead Hazard Program received a Green designation, meaning the program is meeting or exceeding the primary benchmarks for completion of homes identified with environmental and safety hazards. Benchmarks include the number of homes assessed for lead hazards, units completed for lead hazard removal, outreach activities, and individuals trained in lead hazard removal. HUD commended the program on its strength of being on schedule with no weaknesses, no areas of concern, and no corrective action.
Greg Chance, Administrator of Peoria City/County Health Department, states, “We want the community to be aware of the benefits this grant provides in building the capacity to safely and effectively address lead hazards through integrating lead-safe practices throughout our community.”
HUD recently awarded Peoria City/County Health Department $2,475,000 in funding to implement a three-year Lead Hazard Removal Program in Peoria County. The program’s goal is to reduce the high lead poisoning levels in children. Lead poisoning is the number one environmental illness of children in Peoria County and is primarily caused by lead-based paint in older homes. Exposure to lead paint can have harmful effects to children such as lower IQ, behavior and learning problems, seizures and death. Grant funding is earmarked for lead hazard control in houses built before 1978 where low-income and minority families with children reside. Scope of work during mitigation can include the treatment of friction and impact surfaces, the treatment of chewable surfaces, the control of lead-contaminated dust and the control of bare lead-contaminated soil; as well as abatement, component replacement, paint removal, enclosure and encapsulation.
For more information about the Lead Hazard Control Program and other Public Health issues, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department website at www.pcchd.org.