Providence Receives Grant Addressing Lead Paint In Public Housing

PROVIDENCE, RI — Providence as well as Pawtucket Tuesday received almost $2 million in federal grants to identify and address potential lead paint-based dangers in public housing.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said the Pawtucket Housing Authority will receive $1,000,000 while the Providence Housing Authority will receive $974,400.

"These agencies may use this funding to perform risk assessments and remove or control lead-contaminated dust and soil in and around public housing units," Reed said.

The grant is being funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD. According to HUD, 70 percent of all lead poisoning in the U.S. is caused by exposure to lead-based paint hazards at home.

In 1978, Congress banned using lead paint for residential buildings. The Rhode Island Department of Health estimates about 80 percent of Rhode Island houses were built before 1978 and may be at risk of having lead-based hazards.