Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - Vermont Legislature

Vhcb healthy homeshealthy homesWe are excited to announce that with a new hud Healthy HomesProduction Grant our services are expanding to assess the homesof low-income Vermonters for health and safety issues and providefunding to treat the most pressing problems. Administered in partnership withNeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Centers throughout the State, vhcb HealthyHomes will take a comprehensive approach to identifying and addressing homehealth and safety hazards. Homes and apartments will be inspected using astandardized rating tool to prioritize the identified hazards and to utilize theintervention funds most effectively. Outreach and public education activities andwork with the Vermont Department of Health will lead to healthier home environmentsfor vulnerable populations like the elderly and young children. The projectwill also work with the Rutland Regional Medical Center and other partners toaddress the high rate of asthma in Rutland County by mitigating potential triggersin the homes of asthmatics.lead paint hazard reductionBecause the majority of Vermont’s housing stock was built before lead paintwas banned in 1978, continued vigilance is needed to protect Vermont’schildren. The most common pathway for childhood lead poisoningis ingestion of contaminated dust and soil in and around older homes. Ongoingresearch continues to show there is no safe level of lead and that even small amountsof lead in a child’s blood are associated with iq loss, neurological and behavioralproblems. vhcb’s Lead Hazard Reduction Program reduces lead paint hazards bytreating the most common sites of lead dust: window sills, windows and doors,using paint stabilization strategies and limited component replacement to helpfamilies achieve and maintain lead safe homes.vhcb provides lead hazard control services to low-income families throughoutthe state. Since 1994 the program has assisted more than 2,100 homes and apartments.Enrolled properties receive a comprehensive lead paint inspection and riskassessment, project design, bidding and construction oversight, and clearancetesting. Awards to property owners are a combination of grants and zero percent,interest deferred loans payable upon sale or transfer of the property. The programassists private owner-occupied homes and rental housing, and it works with vhcb’snon-profit housing partners to insure rehabilitation projects address all lead painthazards and comply with applicable state and federal regulations. vhcb is currentlyadministering its 8 th hud Lead Hazard Control Grant. With the new Healthy Homesgrant, a comprehensive healthy homes assessment will be conducted in additionto lead hazard evalutation.s As illustrated by this completed project inBarton, older Vermont homes can be madelead-safe for children while preserving historicarchitectural details.Parents, landords, property managers,contractors and others: for information aboutlead paint safety, applicable regulations, and aschedule of free training sessions for essentialmaintenance practices, please visit:www.leadsafevermont.orgHomeowners and in-home day care providers:to learn more about technical and financialassistance from v h c b Healthy Homes, call:1-800-290-0527 or 802-828-5064 or visitwww.vhcb.org| healthyhomesRemember, lead poisoning is always preventable.9 / Celebrating 25 Years