HOUSING: BEST PRACTICES

Housing: Best Practices

Below is a summary of the efforts of state agencies, local municipalities, and community-based organizations to prevent lead poisoning. The Department of Health and the Housing Resources Commission hope that when armed with up-to-date information, local policy makers will use this information to develop a proactive agenda to address lead poisoning in their local communities and at the statewide level.

Rhode Island's Housing Stock At A Glance

Rhode Island has some of the oldest housing in the country. More than half of the 439,837 housing units in Rhode Island are believed to have lead-based paint. Approximately 300,000 housing units (or 70% of the state’s housing stock) were built before 1978 when lead was banned.

Approximately 30,000 units throughout the state are considered high risk and in urgent need of abatement. The remaining 270,000 housing units can be made lead safe by mitigation and good maintenance practices that can be communicated through public awareness campaigns and community outreach. 

What Is Happening At The State Level?

In the last ten years, the state has gradually moved from lead screening and intervention to investing state and federal funds in lead hazard reduction programs. With the passage of the Rhode Island Lead Prevention Act of 1992, Rhode Island is recognized nationally for establishing lead legislation that includes a statewide comprehensive lead screening and education program. However, protecting Rhode Island’s children from lead exposure required a different focus. The state is determined to address the root causes of lead poisoning by enacting the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998. 

Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission

In 1998, the state established the Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission (HRC) to serve as the lead agency responsible for developing housing policies, coordinating efforts among state agencies, and promulgating programs to address housing issues such as lead-based paint. Since then, the state has invested over $9 million dollars to abate lead hazards and to educate the public about the danger of lead paint. The Housing Resources Commission Lead Hazard Reduction Program offers deferred-payment loans to income-eligible homeowners and property owners to cover the cost of lead abatement. The HRC contracted with Rhode Island Housing Mortgage and Finance Corporation to administer the program. The Housing Resources Commission has initiated a Lead Hazard Public Awareness Campaign aimed at giving homeowners and the public simple tips on keeping their homes lead safe.

In 2001, the Housing Resources Commission established the Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP) to increase the supply of permanent and supportive housing. To date, NOP had committed over $7.3 million to create 136 units of permanent and supportive housing throughout the state for low-income families and those who are disabled with special needs. The goal of the Housing Resources Commission is to create 1,000 permanent and supportive housing units and provide subsidies to keep these units affordable for ten years. To date, the NOP funds have leverage over $40 million dollars from public-private funding sources.  These units will be made lead safe for families with children. 

In 2002, the General Assembly passed the Lead Hazard Mitigation Act. Housing Resources Commission was assigned as the principle state agency responsible for lead hazard mitigation. The Act authorized the Housing Resources Commission to promulgate lead hazard mitigation rules and regulations, develop a 4 year plan to reduce childhood lead poisoning, and create a technical assistance program to assist property owners in complying with the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act and the new Lead Hazard Mitigation Act.  

For more information, call:
Simon Kue, Housing Resources Coordinator
Telephone: (401) 222-4897
E-Mail: skue@hrc.ri.gov

Rhode Island Housing Mortgage And Finance Corporation

As the state’s Housing Finance Agency, Rhode Island Housing Mortgage and Finance Corporation (also known as Rhode Island Housing) recognized that lead poisoning is both a housing and a health problem. Lead-based paint poses barriers to safe and affordable housing for low and moderate income Rhode Islanders.  In 2000, Rhode Island Housing adopted policy requiring all housing projects financed with Rhode Island Housing’s funds to be made lead safe.

In partnership with the Housing Resources Commission, Rhode Island Housing administers the Commission’s Lead Hazard Reduction Program. In the last three years, $7.79 million dollars were committed for making 900 units lead safe. Rhode Island Housing also received a $3.4 million grant from HUD for lead hazard reduction, education and outreach efforts over three years.

The Lead Hazard Reduction Program offers 0 to 3 percent deferred-payment loans to income-eligible homeowners and property owners to cover the cost of lead abatement. Principal payments are deferred until the owner transfers or sells the property. This program established five funding priorities, which include units with children under age six, HEALTH cited units, home daycares, section 8 units, and non-profit entities. Loans made to non-profit entities are forgivable.

Rhode Island Housing also partners with the federal Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) to use Medicare reimbursement funds to underwrite the cost of window replacement. In 2001, Rhode Island Housing was awarded $250,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct soil tests of home-based daycare facilities and provide re-mediation for those tested positive for lead.   

In September 2001, Rhode Island Housing received approval from the Rhode Island Department of Health to conduct Lead Safe Remodeler/Renovator Training for lead control work in HUD federal assisted housing and state regulated dwellings.

The Remodeler/Renovator Training will increase the pool of certified lead contractors and has the potential to reduce the cost of lead hazard control and reduction work.  After completing the course, an individual receives certification to do lead hazard control work in all regulated dwellings (with the exception of cited units and units with a lead poisoned child).  To date, more than 600 contractors and homeowners have completed the training.

For more information contact the Lead Department at (401) 450-1350.

What Is Happening At The Local Level?

Many cities and towns are joining the state’s effort to eliminate lead poisoning. However, collaboration and coordination are needed to link existing resources and increase the effectiveness of various lead hazard reduction efforts. Lead poisoning is not limited to urban core cities but affects all communities because of the age of our housing stocks. Below is a summary of what local lead hazard reduction programs are doing to prevent lead poisoning.     

East Providence 

East Providence was the first municipality in the state to administer a lead poisoning prevention program. Since 1992, the City of East Providence Lead Safe Program has campaigned to heighten awareness of city residents about the danger of childhood lead poisoning. This project involved children, parents, and a variety of city agencies in the coordination and dissemination of lead information. Financial assistance is made available to city residents to abate units with lead.

This year, East Providence was awarded a $1.5 million grant from HUD for lead hazard reduction, education and outreach efforts. The Lead Safe Program provides free comprehensive lead inspections with certified lead contractors and helps families find temporary relocation housing while lead abatement work is being done.

The program has a financial package that includes:

• “Grants”  for up to 50% of the total cost of lead hazard reduction
•  “Forgivable Loans” for 25% of the total cost of lead hazard reduction
• “Payable Loans” for the remaining 25% of the total cost of lead hazard reduction

East Providence property owners of single or multi-family dwellings built before 1978 are eligible for the program.  Total household income of occupants must not be greater than 80% of the median income

For more information, call the East Providence Lead Safe Program: (401) 435-7553

Providence

In 1998, the City of Providence formed a Lead Task Force to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing lead poisoning in Providence. The Lead Task Force brought members of the health and human services communities, non-profit agencies, state and federal agencies and community advocates together to discuss the impact of lead and to develop concrete strategies to address the lead problem in Providence.  In June of 1998, the City of Providence received a three-year grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address units with a significant lead presence and to educate Providence’s residents about the danger of lead poisoning.

This year, Providence was awarded a $2.1 million grant from HUD. The Providence Lead Program focuses on four core components:

1.  Public Lead Education and Outreach

2.  Contractor and Workers Training

3.  Lead Reduction Work

4.  Lead Safe Control Work

To qualify for the Providence Lead Program individuals must reside in the city’s targeted neighborhoods. 

For more information, call:
Dave Johnson, Program Manager
Telephone: (401) 351-4300

Pawtucket

The City of Pawtucket received a $2.9 million HUD Lead Grant to assist residents of Pawtucket with lead abatement. One unique concept about the Pawtucket Lead Program is that it encourages the preservation of existing Section 8 units by making loans affordable to property owners. A Section 8 property owner can have 20% of the loan forgiven if the properties remain in the Section 8 Program for five years. 

The Pawtucket Lead Safe Program offers both forgivable and deferred loan loans to income-eligible residents.

For more information, call: (401) 723-4520

Cranston

Since 1993, the City of Cranston sets aside funds from its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from HUD to support its lead program. This program offers a $5,000 per unit grant to city property owners who meet income guidelines to access funds toward their cost of lead abatement. The program has been effective in lowering the cost burden to homeowners who may otherwise bear the cost alone. 

For more information, call:
Tom Caruolo, Director
(401) 461-1000 ex 7226

Woonsocket

The City of Woonsocket administers the Safety First! Home Repair Cost Assistance Program, which is funded through the US Department of HUD Home Investment Partnership Program.  Safety First! Provides code-related and lead hazard reduction cost assistance to low-income homeowners and landlords of affordable rental property. The assistance is in the form of a partially forgivable, partially deferred no-interest loan. The deferred portion is repaid only when a property is sold or transferred. Depending upon the circumstances, up to 70% of the loan can be forgiven. The City of Woonsocket also administers housing programs for Cumberland, Burillville, and North Smithfield.

For more information, call:
Paulette Miller, Deputy Director of Housing & Community Development
Department of Planning and Development
Woonsocket City Hall
169 Main Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401) 767-9232
PMiller@woonsocketri.org

What Is Happening At The Community-Based Level?

Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services (GENS)

GENS works closely with the City of Providence and Rhode Island Housing to increase the availability of certified lead contractors and their workers. They also work with the Providence Lead Program and staff a team who performs minor lead control work. 

For more information, call:
Delores DeSantos
Telephone: (401) 461-4111

Childhood Lead Action Project (CLAP)

The Childhood Lead Action Project is a community-based organization in Providence that works closely with families with lead poisoned children to address their housing needs. They provide lead education and training for service providers on lead poisoning prevention and the rights of families affected by lead. They also work closely with minority communities to promote a better understanding of lead poisoning.

Over the last four years, CLAP has been working on lead poisoning related legislation and were instrumental in passing the Lead Hazard Mitigation Act of 2002.       

For more information, call: 
Roberta H. Aaronson, Executive Director
Telephone: (401) 785-1310