Beginning this month, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will launch a new statewide lead hazard reduction program. This $5.6 million grant award will provide lead paint remediation services to income-qualified families across the Commonwealth. The program will be active in all localities, with the exception of Richmond and Roanoke, as well as Chesterfield County, who already have their own grants for this type of work.
The DHCD will partner with local organizations throughout the State who will serve as direct program providers and manage all aspects of each individual project with DHCD oversight. The DHCD will aim to encourage partners to leverage the lead funding with other housing rehabilitation projects in order to maximize impact. Lead inspections and risk assessments will be provided to identify lead-based paint hazards and qualified contractors will address any hazards and conduct clearance testing upon completion of hazard control work. Education and outreach is another mission of the program, as funds will be dedicated to inform Virginia communities and partners on the dangers of exposure to lead paint as well as training and certifying workers in multiple lead related disciplines.
The program will run through June 2023, with a mission to make 225 housing units lead safe for children and pregnant women, but DHCD will create a sustainable and enduring program for the Commonwealth of Virginia to ensure that all eligible families in need have access to this service.
For more information on this program, visit https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/lhr or contact Susan Hill, Program Manager, at susan.hill@dhcd.virginia.gov. For more information regarding EI’s lead capabilities, contact Eric Cureton at (540) 797-5699 or ecureton@ei1.com.