FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) – The City of Fort Wayne’s Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services was awarded a $680,000 grant to remediate lead paint in older homes.
Mayor Tom Henry made the announcement Thursday, stating the City will partner with the Allen County Department of Health to identify children with elevated blood lead levels. The city will then remediate lead paint in their homes, or the homes where they attend day care or visit often.
Fort Wayne’s grant is one of four awarded by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Other organizations receiving grants include the City of South Bend, Vanderburgh County Health Department (serving Evansville), and NEAR East Area Renewal (serving the IndyEast Promise Zone in Indianapolis).
Fort Wayne’s grant should help remediate lead paint in approximately 40 local homes either owned or rented by residents who earn less than 80 percent of the area’s median income.
The Allen County Department of Health will make referrals to the City on children who have tested with high lead levels. These families will be served first, and if funds remain, the program may be opened to the general public.
Approximately 67,000 Fort Wayne homes were built before 1978, and could therefore contain lead paint hazards. This represents 66 percent of the city’s housing.
To determine if your child tests positive for lead poisoning, the Department of Health has an eight-question quiz on its website. Visit www.allencountyhealth.com for more information.
