Local officials have theorized for years that as many as 79% of the city's homes contain at least some lead paint, primarily because of the age of Erie's housing stock.
'Tip of the iceberg'
According to city Redevelopment Authority documents and other data reviewed by the Erie Times-News, more than $21 million in federal funding has flowed to the city since 1997 to combat lead-based paint in homes.
That money includes nearly $18 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development earmarked for residential lead abatement and awarded over multiple years, as well as $3.2 million from the city's $76 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars.
The ARP funds were distributed to cities nationwide in 2021 to aid in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Redevelopment Authority, the money has been used to deal with lead-based paint from nearly 1,000 housing units throughout Erie County, including apartments and single-family homes.
The bulk of those properties are within the city of Erie.
Lead-based paint was widely used in American houses until 1978, when the federal government banned its use in homes.
Contractors typically either employ paint remediation, which involves painting over existing lead paint with newer, lead-free paint, or removing lead paint from a home entirely.During the 27-year period of financing reviewed by the Times-News, however, the Redevelopment Authority has likely just scratched the surface when it comes to the removal of leaded paint in residences â a significant issue in Erie given the age of the cityâs housing stock.
U.S. Census figures show the city has nearly 44,000 housing units and that roughly half of them were built before 1950. Local officials have theorized for years that as many as 79% of the city's homes contain at least some lead paint.
That presumption is based on housing-stock age and a hypothesis accepted nationwide by government and health officials that homes built before 1950 are almost certain to contain some lead paint.
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