A Pittsburgh county granted federal funds to remediate lead paint has been unable to help the majority of low-income families in the area at high risk for lead paint exposure due to a shortage of certified contractors, local television station WPXI reports. Allegheny County received a $3.4 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant allowing the county to partner with the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority in April 2017. However, thus far, the county has dealt with a significant shortfall in available contractors, and has only been able to help 19 families.
WPXI estimates that 86% of houses in Allegheny County were built before 1978, but there are only 17 contractors certified to remediate paint in a 60-mile radius. Of the 82 families that have qualified for lead-paint remediation, fewer than 20 have been fixed because of the contractor shortage. WXPI reports:
To help offset the shortfall, the county's workforce development office is now paying for more contractors to get their lead remediation certifications, with three more expected to come on board within a month.
The HUD grant is set to expire in early 2020, so it's likely the county will need an extension to help as many families as possible.
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