Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1 million in federal funding for the White Plains Housing Authority. The funding was awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Lead-Based Paint Capital Fund (LBPCF) program, and will specifically be used to conduct lead-based paint risk assessments, housing inspections, and long-term and temporary abatement measures in public housing.
“Lead poisoning is an irreversible, preventable tragedy that robs too many children of their future, including here in White Plains. Forty years after the federal government banned the use of lead paint, it remains a danger to the children of the Hudson Valley, so we have to do everything possible to eliminate exposure to it,” said Senator Schumer. “Fortunately, this major investment in the White Plains Housing Authority does just that, by identifying lead hazards and working to remove them from the homes of vulnerable families. I’m proud to announce this crucial federal funding and will always fight in the Senate to make sure our communities have the resources they need to keep our families healthy and safe.”
“No New Yorker should have to live in a home where they could be poisoned by lead. This federal investment for the White Plains Housing Authority is great news and it will help identify and eliminate lead in the homes for some of our most vulnerable families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Lead poisoning causes severe mental and health problems, and we must do everything we can to protect families from this toxic chemical. I’m proud to support this funding and will continue to fight to provide our communities with the federal support necessary to remove lead from their homes.”
HUD’s LBPCF provides grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to help identify and reduce lead-based paint hazards in eligible housing units.