MaineHousing Accepts $5.7 Million Lead Remediation Grant from HUD

HUD renews focus on lead with $5.7 million grant to MaineHousing

AUGUSTA — MaineHousing on Monday accepted a $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its ongoing work in lead poisoning prevention and home remediation.

The funding from the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program will allow MaineHousing to continue its work with a variety of partners around the state, including several Community Action Agencies.

This MaineHousing administered program provides grants to single-family, owner-occupied homes and owners of residential rental units to make their properties lead safe.

This program includes a comprehensive Healthy Homes assessment and intervention component which addresses a variety of health and safety related housing conditions, such as indoor allergen reduction, injury prevention (falls, electrical hazards, etc.), carbon monoxide and radon, and excess heat and cold.

This new grant from HUD will allow this successful program to continue well into the future.  In recent years, this program has helped to make 240 homes lead safe.

In 2022, MaineHousing funding helped 109 homes in 32 separate projects costing $1.9 million.

In 2023, MaineHousing has completed abatement work in 65 homes in 20 different projects. With this new grant, MaineHousing will be able to extend the reach of this program and complete the work we have started to make many homes safe and lead free.

Joining in the celebration on Monday were representatives from the Maine Legislature as well as staff members from Maine’s U.S. Congressional Delegation.