Officials from the City of Hattiesburg are now accepting applications for LeadSAFE Hattiesburg, an initiative designed to protect families from lead-based paint hazards through safety training and lead abatement.
The program, which is now in its second year, is made possible with the help of a $1.6 million lead-hazard reduction grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was received by city officials at the end of last year. Participation in the program requires a paint inspection of the property to determine the presence of lead-based paint hazards and for the applicant to meet income-eligibility requirements.
“We have funding for 70 units, whether privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing, to try to and reduce lead-based paint hazards within homes,” Mayor Toby Barker said. “The first year included a lot of testing, as well as (looking for) potential homes that have lead-based paint.
“Now we’re in the second phase of that, which is abatement of potentially lead-based hazards.”
LeadSAFE Hattiesburg is a lead hazard-reduction program for income-eligible residents living within Hattiesburg's city limits. The program aims to protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards by using LBP hazard safety training, as well as interim controls and abatement.
Interim controls for the program are measures intended to reduce exposure to lead-based paint and must be maintained in the future to prevent the hazards from returning. Meanwhile, abatement is a set of measures intended to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards.
Participation in the program requires a paint inspection of the property to determine the presence of lead-based paint hazards and for the applicant to meet income-eligibility requirements. To learn more, interested applicants can visit https://www.hattiesburgms.com/community-development/leadsafe/.
To apply, email leadsafe@hattiesburgms.com.
The Environmental Protection Agency has specific certification requirements for renovators and other contractors. Through these course offerings, participants can obtain certification and meet the EPA’s requirements.
To register for a course, participants must have a High School Diploma or GED, reside within the city limits of Hattiesburg and must not exceed income limits for HUD.
“We’ve sent out a handful of applications, and we’ve got funding for 70 units,” Barker said. “We encourage anyone who is interested to come apply.
“We’ve received some interest, and we’ll see how applications come in.”
