Lead Hazard Control

The Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Grant Program is designed to strategically advance efforts to increase lead-safe affordable housing while eliminating the possibility of childhood lead poisoning in the City of Cleveland.  The LHC program provides lead risk assessments, identifies lead–based paint, and provides grants to control lead-based paint hazards. 
Created to protect children from lead-based paint hazards, the program is designed to maximize both the combination of children protected from lead poisoning and housing units where lead hazards are controlled. 

All identified interior and exterior lead-based paint hazards are to be controlled so that the housing unit will achieve “clearance” in order to confirm that all hazards have been properly addressed. The clearance process includes both a visual evaluation and a dust-wipe sampling. 

The scope of work eligible for the program will be determined by the Paint Inspection/Risk Assessment completed by the Risk Assessor. If the total cost of the unit is greater than the average unit cost, the occupant/landlord is encouraged to contribute to the cost with in-kind work or additional financial resources.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities may include interior and exterior lead hazard control with additional assistance for healthy homes hazards. Eligible activities are determined by City of Cleveland staff during an onsite inspection. 

All painted surfaces in the interior and exterior of the structure will be inspected visually to determine the condition of the painted surface and using a handheld machine to determine presence of any lead-based paint. Items identified as lead-based paint hazards may be addressed with grant funding. Lead-based paint components that are intact and do not exhibit signs of deterioration are not eligible for repairs. 

If the scope of work exceeds the available amount of assistance, the property owner may be required to contribute to the project or seek additional assistance

Eligibility and Award

Residents of the City of Cleveland living in older homes with children under the age of six (6) years and whose incomes are included in the guidelines below may participate in this program. Landlords are required to contribute to the project depending on funding availability and project costs. Complete applications are scored to determine priority and a. Eligible housing units include:

• Home must be in the City of Cleveland and built before 1978
• A child under age six (6) must live in or visit the home 20+ hours each week, or a pregnant woman must live in the home 
• Lead hazards must be identified (all eligible families get a free lead inspection)
• The family living in the home must qualify as low-income

Property taxes must be current or the property owner must be on an approved payment plan

Eligibility Process

• Properties occupied by the owner and/or tenant may apply
• Income evaluation includes all eligible occupants of the property.
• A case administrator will use income source and asset documentation such as paystubs, bank statements, and other reoccurring assets to determine eligibility 
• If eligible, an inspector will be assigned to survey property.

Inspection & Work Write-Up

• A licensed inspector will perform a lead/inspection risk assessment (LIRA) on painted surfaces on both the exterior and interior of the dwelling as well a healthy homes assessment.
• The inspector will write a scope of work to address all lead-based paint hazards
• The inspector will write a scope of work to address healthy homes work, if applicable.
• The scope of work is reviewed for eligibility by the program manager

If the scope of work is eligible, the property is bid to contractors. 

If the scope of work is too large, the program may decline to move forward or require a financial contribution from the property owner.

Construction

• A certified lead abatement contractor is hired to conduct the work
• Interior work may take up to 10 days, while exterior work may take longer depending on the weather
• Occupants are provided a $1,000 stipend to relocate during lead hazard control activities
• Occupants may stay with family, friends, or at a hotel

Final Inspection

• Licensed inspectors will perform a clearance inspection to ensure that the property is lead-safe and all identified hazards have been sufficiently controlled 
• If applicable, the Department of Community Development will send the clearance report to CDPH if the dwelling is under a Lead Hazard Control Order
• The Department of Community Development will send the clearance report to the Department of Building and Housing to obtain a Lead Safe Certificate, if applicable

Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance

• Homeowners and property owners should complete ongoing visual inspections of all components that were treated using interim control methods or encapsulation and all other identified components that were coated with lead-based paint, but that did not need treatment at the time the grant was administered 
• If the paint on any of these surfaces is deteriorated, the owner must stabilize these surfaces immediately