Tomorrow, the City of South Bend will announce new funding for lead-safe home repair. South Bend is one of six cities receiving competitive Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant funding through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) to fund lead-safe home repair grants to homeowners and property owners. As part of the program, over $670,000 is allocated for lead hazard identification and lead-control activities in South Bend.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg will join Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. Executive Director Kathy Schuth for a press event celebrating the grant on Tuesday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m. at 717 Cottage Grove Ave.
The grant is intended to reduce harm from lead paint, a major cause of childhood lead poisoning. Lead paint was not banned until 1978, and within South Bend city limits, 82.1% of all housing units were built prior to 1979. Of the children tested for lead over the past 10 years (8%), high proportions residing in certain city census tracts had elevated blood lead levels (between 21% and 30% in Census Tracts 4, 5, 6, 11, 19, 21, 27 and 30).
Funding from the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant is open to owner-occupied and rental units constructed before 1978. Priority will be given to homes where children under six or pregnant people reside. Residents are eligible if their household makes less than 80% area median income.
Residents are encouraged to apply directly with IHCDA to determine program eligibility by contacting Justin Tyrrell, Director of Lead Programs, INCAA at 317-638-4232 or jtyrrell@incap.org, or Dave Pugh, Lead Grant Manager, IHCDA, at 317-234-6289. For more information on this grant and additional IHCDA lead initiatives visit https://www.in.gov/myihcda/2675.htm. Residents can also find the application by calling 311, following this link, or accessing a paper application during regular business hours in the Department of Community Investment.
Who: Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Deputy Chief of Staff Suzanna Fritzberg, Near Northwest Neighborhood Executive Director Kathy Schuth
What: Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Announcement
When: Tuesday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m.
Where: 717 Cottage Grove Ave.
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