What's Happening in Cincinnati, OH…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Cincinnati a grant to help reduce the hazard of lead paint, and has now awarded a second $3.4m to tackle the issue in private homes throughout the city.

In order to win these grants, three agencies partnered to work on a plan for hazard abatement: the Hamilton County Public Health Department, the Cincinnati Health Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, and the Cincinnati Department of Community and Economic Development.

The three entities will work together to devise a plan to put abatement efforts in place for 240 properties; the plan will also provide training for 30 contractors who will specialize in reducing the hazards from lead. The effort also calls for planning 30 community outreach events.

Efforts at abatement will be focused on those areas and housing where children are in danger of being poisoned by lead. Screenings and educational efforts will also be part of the plan, which mandates that children under six have to live in the property, or visit it frequently, if it is to qualify for the abatement.

The grant focuses on Cincinnati proper, as well as Springfield Township, Mount Healthy, North College Hill, Green Township, Lockland, Elmwood Place, and Cheviot.

Efforts like this can benefit if officials work with local flyer printing companies, which can create a mailer for the affected properties.