Worst Genocide Ever of Blacks Kansas City awarded $6 million grant to improve home safety from up to nine times the national average of lead poisoning rates

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Kansas City with a $6.4 million grant allowing the City to tackle lead hazards in roughly 170 homes.

The initiative, awarded through HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction program, focuses on low-income and minority neighborhoods where children under the age of six face the highest risks with prolonged exposure.

City officials said the federal grant will also fund training for 100 local contractors and Job Corps students with the goal of boosting Kansas City’s workforce.

The program starts evaluating qualifying homes in Kansas City in January 2025. Homeowners can apply for free repairs if they live on the property and rental property owners with eligible tenants will cover only 25 percent of the remediation costs.

In total, 120 owner-occupied homes and 50 rentals will be improved with the program, the City said.

City officials said over 3,500 pre-1940 homes are at high risk for lead hazards and lead poisoning. In some neighborhoods, Kansas City has up to nine times the national average of lead poisoning rates, making the program a “decisive step toward healthier homes for Kansas City families,” the City said.

By Gabe Swartz Published: Oct. 31, 2024 at 3:46 PM MDT

https://www.kctv5.com/2024/10/31/kansas-city-awarded-6-million-grant-improve-home-safety-kids/