City-County Partnership Promotes Lead Hazard Control

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Lead is a neurotoxin and environmental hazard that, when present in paint, poses a danger to residents of older homes — especially children, who are particularly susceptible to its harmful effects. As of 2000, approximately 38 million homes built before 1978 contained lead-based paint. When rehabilitated, these older homes are a significant source of affordable housing, but disturbing surfaces covered with lead-based paint releases harmful dust and lead particles that can persist long after renovations are complete. Salvaging these homes for affordable housing requires dedicated resources, special expertise, and leadership.

HUD and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have identified localities that have crafted effective approaches to controlling the hazards of lead-based paint. One such community is St. Paul, Minnesota, where the city partnered with surrounding Ramsey County in 1993 to create the Lead Hazard Reduction Program (LHRP), which provides financial and educational assistance to contractors, property managers, and homeowners, thereby reducing the perceived liability of removing lead-based paint.

Most of the homes in St. Paul and Ramsey County were built before 1940 and are in need of rehabilitation. According to program manager Jim Yannarelly, although local agencies can identify and refer the lead hazard control projects to LHRP, much of the work completed by the organization results from Section 8 annual reviews that can identify lead-based paint hazards. In St. Paul and Ramsey County, these hazards are usually indicated by the presence of deteriorating or peeling paint on older window components.

Using a power sander equipped with a high-efficiency air filter exhaust system, a worker removes lead-based paint from a door. Photo courtesy of Aaron Sussell/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Pooling Resources

In creating LHRP, St. Paul and Ramsey County used their respective budget allocations, in conjunction with grants from the state and federal governments, to ensure proper control of lead-based paint hazards. The partnership’s effort to secure the cooperation of all interested parties has led to a high level of coordination among regulatory agencies and other public and private groups in St. Paul that work closely together to reduce lead hazards, distribute information, and resolve regulatory conflicts.

Subsidizing Lead-Based Paint Removal

Finding sufficient funding to manage lead-based paint hazards is difficult. Because the cost of clean-up efforts can exceed $15,000 per unit, LHRP provides low-cost risk assessments and technical assistance. Properties participating in the program receive $2,000 in grants to support lead hazard control and free clearance testing to determine whether any risk remains at the conclusion of the project. LHRP offers similar grants to homeowners rehabilitating their homes. In addition, LHRP’s discounted services are offered to local community development corporations, public housing authorities, and other nonprofit groups.

Building Expertise

LHRP operates educational programs for those involved in lead hazard management. The organization offers Lead-Safe Work Practices training to property owners and managers who have received citations for loose or peeling paint. Participants are taught how to perform lead hazard maintenance and repair in their own buildings. Because owners no longer need outside contractors to perform all lead-based paint work, repair costs are reduced. As a side benefit, training gives rehabilitation groups and property owners greater confidence and less anxiety about potential liabilities. LHRP also offers a program for contractors to become certified in lead paint removal. Workers can complete the classes in two afternoons, minimizing their time away from work. This training has created a pool of certified contractors experienced in lead-safe work practices.

Lead-based paint is an expensive hazard, both in terms of health and in terms of rehabilitating affordable housing. Despite the challenges, St. Paul and Ramsey County have worked together to promote cost-effective lead-based paint hazard control. Additional information on these initiatives, which can serve as a starting point for other jurisdictions working to manage lead-based paint hazards and encourage affordable housing rehabilitation, is reported in Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing. The two-volume report can be downloaded free of charge at www.huduser.org/publications/affhsg/bestpractices.html and is also available in print for a nominal fee by calling HUD USER at 800.245.2691, option 1.