2011 Annual Report to the General Assembly - Vermont Housing ...

Vermont Lead Hazard Reduction Program
In early 2011 VHCB was awarded a $3.1 million Lead Hazard Control Grant
from HUD to assist more than 230 homes and apartments throughout
the State through 2013. Since 1994, the program has controlled lead paint
hazards in more than 2,000 units of housing serving low-income families.
Over half of these units were assisted as part of major rehabilitation projects
completed by Vermont’s strong network of non-profit housing developers and
land trusts, and will thus remain perpetually affordable.
The VHCB Lead Program provides technical assistance and direct funding
for mitigation of lead paint hazards. Typical projects include window replacement,
friction surface treatments, paint stabilization, and rigorous cleaning.
Residents are relocated during the work and cannot return until clearance dust
testing confirms their unit is safe. Technical assistance includes identifying all
lead-painted surfaces, conducting a risk assessment, developing project specifications,
assistance with contractor bidding, lab analysis and other services.
Eligibility is based primarily on the income of the residents, be they owneroccupants
or tenants.
The program offers free training to meet the requirements of Vermont’s lead
paint law for landlords, contractors, property managers and others. With its
partners the Vermont Department of Health, Parks Place Community Center in
Bellows Falls, and the Vermont Lead Safety Project, the VHCB Lead Program
works to educate all Vermonters about how to prevent lead poisoning. Vermont
has a lot of old housing, the majority of which was built before lead paint was
banned in 1978. Because lead poisoning causes permanent, irreversible damage
to young children, prevention is the only effective strategy.
The HUD grant received this year includes an additional $100,000 to address
other health and safety issues identified in enrolled properties and to train
housing professionals in healthy homes principles. This additional funding
is indicative of recent federal efforts by HUD, CDC, and EPA to take a more
holistic approach to providing assistance for housing rehabilitation and hazard
mitigation.
The VHCB Lead Program has benefitted from the long-time service of
current staff, two of whom have been with the program since 1996:
Parents, landords, contractors, property
managers and others: for information
about lead paint safety, applicable regulations,
and a schedule of free training
sessions, visit www.LeadSafeVermont.org
Homeowners and in-home day care
providers: to learn more about technical
and financial assistance from the VHCB
Lead Paint Program, call: 1-800-290-0527
or 802-828-5064 or visit:
ww.vhcb.org/lead.html
Remember, lead poisoning
is always preventable.
Ron Rupp, Program Director (15 years)
Martin Bonneau, Senior Project Designer (15 years)
Robert Zatzke, Program Coordinator (13 years)
Diane Mackay, Program Assistant (6 years)
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