High Point

Why Did The City Of High Point Apply For Lead Hazard Control Grant Funds
To prevent lead poisoning in High Point's children. Lead poisoning is one of the leading environmental health threats to children today. Lead is a highly toxic substance and exposure to it is known to cause a variety of health problems in children. Infants and children 6 years old and younger are especially at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies absorb lead easier than adults do, and they often put their hands and objects in their mouths. These injuries, which are often irreversible, will affect children throughout their lives and may impede their future success.

The major cause of lead poisoning is deteriorated lead-based paint. Lead-based paint was used in or on most houses built before 1978 (the use of lead in paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978). As lead-based paint ages and deteriorates, it breaks down into a fine dust that can be inhaled or ingested by young children by hand-to-mouth activity. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, lower IQs, behavioral problems, and central nervous system health effects. Lead poisoning knows no income limits, but it has been documented through various studies that families with low to moderate incomes and those living in core-inner cities are most likely to have children who are lead poisoned.

Who Submitted The Lead Hazard Control Grant Application?
The City of High Point Community Development & Housing Department. Contact information is:
City Hall
211 S. Hamilton Street
Room 312
High Point, NC
Telephone: 336-883-3349

What Is The Amount Of The Federal Award?
The amount of the Lead Hazard Control Grant Award is $3,000,000.00, which will be used in combination with cash and in-kind matching and leveraged contributions of $2,770,444.00.

What Are The Goals And Objectives Of The City Of High Point Lead Hazard Control Program?

Elimination and/or the control of identified lead hazards in two hundred twenty-nine housing units comprised of low to very-low income families with children under six years of age;
Reduce the risk of lead poisoning in targeted core-city neighborhoods;
Promote increased blood lead level screening of children under six;
Develop and implement a primary prevention program which identifies children under six years of age who have blood lead levels of 5 ug/dL < 9 ug/dL involving interventions and health educators;
Train and certify building owners and contractors (and their employees) on visual inspection techniques and lead safe work practices;
Recruitment and training of lead contractors and workers;
Fund an Environmental Health Specialist position in the Guilford County Department of Public Health who would focus exclusively on High Point;
Create a Lead Safe High Point initiative to promote lead hazard awareness and prevention;
Provide bi-lingual educational opportunities about the dangers of lead poisoning and actions families can take to protect themselves;
Develop a comprehensive fair housing initiative by conducting workshops to housing providers, civic and community-based organizations, as well as elected and appointed officials;
Create a web-based Lead Safe Registry that list houses that are known to be lead safe as well as houses that have been identified as hazardous.

What Is The City Of High Point's Lead Hazard Control Strategy?
The overall goals of the strategy are to reduce or eliminate lead-based paint hazards in the targeted housing including loose, peeling, or flaking lead-based paint, lead contaminated dust, and lead contaminated soil. First, an inspection/risk assessment will be conducted by an Environmental Specialist to determine the degree of lead-based paint hazard(s) and to recommend specific lead hazard controls required; second, once lead hazards are identified, the City of High Point Community Development & Housing Department Project Managers will write construction specifications in the form of a Work Write-up, to be included in a bid process. The bid specifications will be advertised to, and received from, contractors employing certified workers and/or state licensed lead contractors. Occupants may be relocated during the lead hazard control work process.

What Is The Number Of Units In Which Lead Hazard Control Activities Will Be Conducted?
Lead hazards will be conducted in two hundred twenty-nine (229) eligible housing units. These units will receive a combination of interim controls and abatement techniques. An average of $7,750.00 per unit of lead hazard control funds is projected to be expended for the combination of interim controls and abatement technique approach.

What Defines Eligible Properties?
Eligible properties for lead hazard control work must meet the following conditions:

Constructed on or before 1978
Owner or tenant occupied: single family, multi-family, or multi-family units
Contains lead-based paint hazards
Units may be vacant or occupied.

What Is The Geographic Location Of Eligible Properties?
Properties receiving lead-based paint hazard control funds must be within the City of High Point's Municipal Limits. Preference will be given to units that are located within the Core-city including the following neighborhoods: Southside, Macedonia, East Central, Washington Drive, and West End.

Will The City Prioritize Eligible Units Once They Are Identified?
Priority of identified units is given as follows:

Presence of children identified with EBLs under six years of age;
Presence of children under six years of age as part of a Primary Prevention Program. This is a planned approach to control lead hazards before children are poisoned;
Units located in the identified targeted areas;
Condition of the structure and value of the unit;
Degree of lead hazards;
Units earmarked for existing rehabilitation programs; and on a case-by-case basis, a unit located outside of the targeted areas and occupied by a lead poisoned child under six years of age will be considered for financial assistance or referred to a lead hazard control program in their area, if applicable.

What Are The Income Requirements For Applicants?
The owner/occupant of the structure must meet federal income guidelines of 80% or below area median income (AMI). The applicant may be an investor/owner defined as: sole proprietor; partnership; non-profit or for profit corporation. For investor/owners, income guidelines do not apply, but their tenants must meet income guidelines.

How Much Will It Cost To Eliminate And/Or Control Identified Lead-Based Paint Hazards? For homeowners who reside in the identified property and who meet federal income guidelines of 80% or below area median income (AMI), the cost of hazard control work will be a one-time grant of up to $8,000. For investor owners a 10% match of the total project cost is required.

How Do I Apply For Lead Hazard Control Funds?
Call 336-883-3349 and request a Homeowner or Investor-Owner Application Package. Read and complete the required application, assemble any required documents and call again for an appointment with a Housing Intake Specialist.

What Is The Mission Of The Lead Safe High Point Initiative?
The mission of the Lead Safe High Point initiative is to create a city-wide campaign to promote lead hazard awareness and prevention to citizens of High Point by sponsoring educational programs, training sessions and publicity in conjunction with the city's Working Partners who pledged their support of the Lead Hazard Control Grant Application.

Who Are The City's Working Partners?
The following agencies and organizations submitted letters in support of the city's grant application and have agreed to participate and promote a Lead Safe High Point initiative: Guilford County Department of Public Health, United Way of Greater High Point, Housing Authority of High Point, High Point University, High Point Regional Health Systems, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Guilford County Schools System, Ministers Conference of Greater High Point & Vicinity, City of High Point Inspections Department, City of High Point Human Relations Department (Fair Housing) and City of High Point Public Library. Lead Safe High Point welcomes any other interested persons, agencies and organizations to join the campaign.