Nearly 100 low-income housing units in Bloomington will undergo lead abatement, financed by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Bloomington is receiving more than $2.3 million under the Lead-Based Paint Reduction Program to remove lead from 92 homes of low-income families with children. The project comes with an additional $329,000 under HUD's Health Homes program to address various childhood diseases and injuries.
Data show more than 11% of Bloomington kids under age 6 had elevated blood lead levels over a five-year period. That's compared to 3% statewide. Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said he remembers meeting a family whose 2-year-old had a blood lead level six times what's considered "safe."
"They found this out through the testing at their preschool," Renner said Wednesday during a news conference announcing the grant approval. "They had to move out of their home and the landlord refused to do anything about it."
Renner said they're far from alone. He said many families in older housing on the west side are going through the same thing.
Deborah White, executive director of Mid Central Community Action, said the abatement program creates an opening to address other family needs.
"We are already working in a holistic manner when it comes to helping people achieve financial stability," White said. "So in this new initiative, the hub is the built environment. We are taking that holistic approach because we're going to identify and address any other hazards in the home while addressing the lead levels."
White said that includes exorbitant housing costs and even things like domestic violence.
Bloomington is the only Illinois community to receive the grant this year. HUD awarded $165 million to 44 local and state government agencies in 23 states.
Joseph Galvan, HUD Midwest regional administrator, said more assistance is available next time around.
"It's not a one-time grant, if you reapply--and the best way to get more money is spend the money you got," Galvan said.
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a Peoria Republican, added that until there's no longer lead-based paint left to be removed from homes, the federal government has an obligation to shell out resources to keep children healthy.
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