Ohio – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has set over $14 million for Ohio, part of a larger federal initiative to improve living conditions across the country, so benefiting local health and housing projects. With an eye on lead hazard control and building better living environments, this money seeks to lower health and safety risks in homes.
“We commend the efforts of our public and nonprofit partners as we seek to make homes safer,” said HUD Agency Head, the Honorable Adrianne Todman. “These grants fund programs and research will improve health, build community capacity, support older adults, and strengthen housing affordability.”
The grants, distributed among seven Ohio organizations, are part of a national program that covers 33 states, four Tribal governments, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Matthew Ammon, Director of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes at HUD, emphasized the agency’s commitment to these issues.
“By providing these grants, HUD makes it clear that making homes healthy and safe is a priority for communities,” said Ammon. “HUD is committed to protecting families from the effects of unhealthy housing and to improving the health and economic stability of communities.”
With Ohio’s $14.5 million contribution, several initiatives aiming at tackling important health and safety issues in residential settings will be supported. Among these initiatives are lead-based paint removal, senior fall risk reduction, and study of successful approaches for spotting and controlling housing-related dangers.
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With $4.5 million set for its lead-based paint hazard management program, the Erie County Health Department got the most among the awardees. It also got extra $1.5 million for more general healthy home visits. With $2 million apiece, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and Summit County will be able to assist their respective initiatives in hazard studies and housing safety.
Another notable beneficiary with a $1.99 million grant was the Lancaster Fairfield County Area’s CAP Commission. With corresponding funding of $1.5 million and $1 million, LifeCare Alliance in Columbus and Case Western Reserve University also got major grants. Focusing specifically on leveraging local small enterprises and specialists skilled in hazard assessment and mitigation, the funds will be used to improve local capacity for performing housing modifications and repairs.
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HUD’s effort consists on numerous particular grant programs aimed at different aspects of home safety. One program addresses fall hazards and other risks through home maintenance and repair tasks under direction of qualified occupational therapists, therefore helping elders live independently. Another funding addresses the risks associated with different housing-related hazards; another program is especially meant to address the problems experienced by young children and households subjected to lead.
Moreover, some of the money is used to look into the consequences of risks connected to housing and create better strategies to manage and get rid of them. This research is crucial for refining current practices and ensuring that future interventions are both efficient and effective.
The influx of federal money is likely to have a major effect on the health and safety of Ohio citizens, therefore attesting to HUD’s continuous dedication to raise living standards and community health throughout the country.
Read a state-by-state breakdown of the funding.
Read complete project-by-project summaries of the grants awarded in each of the grant programs.
