A large-scale project to reduce lead hazards in Augusta homes has been finalized.
The proposal from Augusta’s Housing and Community Development department was approved by the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office to acquire more than $2.5 million dollars in funding and will now enter the next phase of its process.
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) applied for the federal grant in partnership with Housing and Community Development (HCD) in Augusta. DPH submitted the grant application and was approved, and Augusta is a sub-grantee of that award.
Now 120 Augusta homes will be enrolled in the program to have traces of lead paint removed from their properties. Up to $12,000 per house is planned for in the budget.
Augusta was actually the only city in the state of Georgia to be approved for the program. It is unknown if other communities applied and were turned down, or if no other cities applied.
“We were so passionate about it,” said Shauntia Lewis, the deputy director at HCD. “We actually received notification about this just two-and-a-half weeks before the grant application was due.”
Lewis said her office knew the situation of homes in Augusta with lead issues and was drawn to get the proposal done in time.
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“We went in and were up until three in the morning pulling together the documents and research we needed to submit for approval,” Lewis said. “We’re good working by the seat of our pants, especially since the start of the pandemic.”
According to Lewis, Augusta leadership placed trust in HCD to get the proposal prepared to submit in time.
“Everyone was onboard,” Lewis said.
Mayor Hardie Davis was an instrumental piece for them, Lewis said, partly because he is the only entity who can sign off on HCD’s certificate of need to submit for HUD approval. He was behind them, and other commissioners were in favor and supported the HCD’s process.
The next step in the process is locating and enrolling 120 homes that fit the criteria. This process has multiple conduits, according to Lewis.
The homes that are allowed into the program must have children living at the residence. Augusta’s Health Department can refer homes where a child who has exhibited lead in their system is living. HCD will also use its geographic information system (GIS) that pinpoints Augusta homes built before 1979 that house low-income families with children. Residents can also apply personally for the program, and through these various methods, HCD can narrow down who they can help most immediately.
“No one will be excluded as long as the funding lasts and as long as they qualify, which is low-income families with children in the home,” Lewis said.
According to the documents submitted to the commission, the timeline for pinpointing the homes is due to be completed by March of 2023. At that point, inspectors will judge the steps that are required to repair the house to a safe level.
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If other health-related deficiencies are discovered through the inspection, “DPH can approve Healthy Homes work in addition to the lead remediation work,” according to the proposal documents.
More info on the federal Healthy Homes program can be found here.
According to Lewis, some of the issues that fall into Healthy Homes remediation guidelines are termite and pest control, roof leaks and stability and other toxic chemicals.
There’s additional money above the designated lead remediation funds built into the program that can be allocated to solving Healthy Homes-related issues if they’re discovered through the inspection process.
This won’t be a one time occurrence if they can help it, according to Lewis.
“We’re definitely going to partner with the DPH to continue to move forward with this endeavor,” she said.
HCD will continue applying for this grant program until there Augusta homes no longer need the help, Lewis said.
“If HUD or Congress decides there aren’t enough funds to further bankroll the lead hazard reduction program, we will find a way,” Lewis said.
Lewis understands that more than $2 million makes a big difference, but HCD will continue to search for other avenues to fund the remediation process however possible.
“My heart sank when I looked at the issue,” Lewis said. “Our children are our future. If we don’t do something now, we create an unhealthy community. If we create an unhealthy future, where does that leave us tomorrow?”
The Georgia Department of Public Health could not be reached by press time. The Augusta Press will continue to track this program throughout its process.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
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