Maricopa County in Arizona received a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to the Daily Independent. Officials hope the grant money can benefit homeowners in Youngtown, Ariz., Tolleson, Ariz., Gila Bend, Ariz., and Guadalupe, Ariz.
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
