Schumer Urges Feds to Approve $5.5 Million in Federal Lead Funding for Onondaga County and City of Syracuse

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to approve $5.5 million in federal funding through two separate federal grant programs that would help the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County to address and remove lead-based paint hazards in homes throughout the Central NY region. Specifically, Schumer said Onondaga County is applying for $3 million in federal funds through HUD's Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant program, while the City of Syracuse is applying for $2.5 million in funding through HUD's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant program. Schumer said the ability to tap these federal resources on both the county and city levels would greatly help Central New Yorkers combat lead poisoning. Schumer said lead-based paints pose a serious threat to public health in the county, particularly to children and economically disadvantaged residents. This funding will enable Central NY to help reduce the danger posed by lead poisoning, and work to ensure that citizens across the county are able to lead safer, healthier lives.

"Lead poisoning is a pernicious, irreversible, preventable tragedy that robs many families and children of their future. We need to do everything we can to eliminate this hazardous lead from homes in Syracuse and Onondaga County, which are vulnerable because so many were built before 1978 when lead paint was banned. The City of Syracuse and Onondaga County have been working tirelessly to rid homes of this lead, but they need far more resources to provide safer environments for our residents and children, and particularly our most vulnerable," said Schumer. "So I am urging HUD to approve this desperately needed $5.5 million in federal funding as soon as possible -- because we need to act now and we need to act fast to get toxic lead out of our homes, before it is too late."

Schumer said these additional HUD funds would supplement the funds that could be awarded to Onondaga County, as the City of Syracuse is applying for funds to be targeted to the most distressed, affected census tracts in the city, also known as our Neighborhood Revitalization Stabilization Areas (NRSAs). Funds would remediate 150 low-income housing units located primarily in the Syracuse NRSAs, where 49 percent of families are low-income, earning less than 80% of the area median income. In addition, 10 percent of those aged 16 and older in this area are unemployed, with 61 percent of children living in poverty. Schumer explained that, with 50 percent of rental properties in the City of Syracuse built prior to 1960, residents in those units are at greatest risk for lead-based paint hazards. Schumer said this HUD program would be the only grant funding source aimed at remediating rental properties in Syracuse.

Onondaga County Community Development (OCCD) is applying for a $3 million in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant funding through HUD. If successful, Schumer said this would be the ninth grant the department has received. With previously awarded funds from HUD's lead abatement programs, Onondaga County has made over 1,650 homes throughout all of the towns and villages in Onondaga County, as well as sections of the City of Syracuse, lead safe for children and families. The county's Lead Program has been very successful and was even one in four grantees nationwide chosen in 2015 to participate in a Pilot Program sponsored by HUD. Schumer said a 2016 Lead Hazard Demonstration award for OCCD would provide grants to an additional 195 low-moderate income households with children, resulting in a safer environment for all families.

In addition, the City of Syracuse is applying for $2.5 million in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant through HUD. This grant program requires a 10 percent match, for which the City of Syracuse has said it would provide in-kind. Schumer said both of these funding pots would do a world of good for the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County when it comes to lead abatement efforts.

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