HUD AWARDS $3.8 MILLION TO PROTECT FAMILIES FROM HOME HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS IN NEW JERSEY
Funding to make low-income families’ homes safer and healthier and create job opportunities for health housing practitioners

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded over $38 million to city, county, and Native American tribal governments, and non-profit organizations in 17 states to protect children and families from home health hazards. HUD is providing these 23 grants through its Healthy Homes Production Grant Program to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards in the homes of families of low-income.

In New Jersey, HUD awarded $3,859,577.21 – $2 million to the City of Newark, and $1,859,577.21 to Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc.

These investments will protect families and children by eliminating significant home health and safety hazards in over 2,600 homes of low-income families. In addition, the investments will provide resources to build capacity for healthy homes interventions to support a workforce including housing renovation contractors, subsidies for licensing or certification fees to low-income persons seeking credentials as healthy housing practitioners, lead sampling technicians, or certified renovators; and conducting targeted outreach, affirmative marketing, and education that helps promote participation in the program.

“Today, we are once again investing in the health and lives of children and families with low incomes,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.  “The governments and nonprofits to which we are awarding these grants have shown that they understand how to address multiple housing-related health and safety hazards and are motivated to act.

“There is a strong connection between housing and health, and HUD’s Healthy Homes Production Grant Program provides funding to assist housing providers in keeping their families safe,” said Alicka Ampry-Samuel, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “These grantees take a proactive approach to assist its families with the resources they need to make homes healthier and ensure low-income families can protect the health of their loved ones.”

In New Jersey, The Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc (GBCA) will use the funding to expand on its current Lead-Safe and Weatherization program and complete health and safety interventions in 140 units. The GBCA is in the unique position of being both the Weatherization Assistance Program for Bergen County and the Lead Assistance Program provider for Bergen and portions of Passaic County. The Healthy Homes Production (HHP) Grant Program funding will provide the leverage needed to deliver all necessary services to qualified clients.

The City of Newark, NJ, will remediate approximately 130 homes to ensure the safety of the home environment, including lead level hazard reduction, mold remediation, improved ventilation, integrated pest management, installation of smoke detectors and CO alarms, radon mitigation, and slip and fall prevention through modifications to stairs and entryways.

This investment builds on HUD’s commitment to building safer, more resilient, and inclusive communities for all, a central pillar includes protecting American families from potential hazards in their own homes, such as from lead-based paint and lead pipes. This work is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to ensure that all Americans can drink clean water, breathe clean air, and live in healthy homes. In January, HUD announced $568 million available through two Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs), bringing HUD’s total of funds made available to protect children, families, and individuals from exposure to lead and other housing-related hazards to more than $2.7 billion since 1993. More information on how HUD is advancing the Biden-⁠Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan can be found here.

Matthew Ammon, Director of HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, added, “By providing these grants, HUD makes it clear that providing healthy and safe homes for the community is a priority. HUD is committed to protecting families, especially children and other vulnerable populations from these hazards and providing healthy and sustainable housing.”

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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
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