Portman Statement on HUD Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Presented to Erie County

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) presented Erie County with a Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant worth more than $1.6 million. This funding will be used to protect children and families in Erie County from the hazards of lead-based paint and other dangerous home health and safety conditions:

“For far too long Ohio families have faced significant health risks in their own homes because of the hazards of lead-based paint, Portman said. “This grant will help protect low-income families in Erie County from the health consequences of being exposed to lead-based paint, such as brain damage and anemia, providing every child with the opportunity for a better future. I look forward to continuing this effort to provide safe and affordable housing for all Ohio families.”

NOTE: Portman has worked with federal, state, and local leaders throughout the process in the effort to help Erie County secure the grant, including writing a letter of support in March to HUD on behalf of Erie County’s grant application.

Portman has long focused on neighborhood revitalization efforts throughout the state, specifically by securing funds for Ohio communities in need through the Hardest Hit Fund. Senator Portman most recently secured an additional $191 million in Hardest Hit Funds which will be directed towards the demolition of vacant and blighted structures which pose a growing threat to the public safety and economic well-being of our communities, and for homeowner assistance programs in support of preventing foreclosure. In 2013, Portman introduced the Neighborhood Safety Act to allow states to use resources from the Hardest Hit Fund to tackle this problem. Ohio has tens of thousands of vacant properties awaiting demolition, posing a significant risk to public safety and drastically decreasing the value of surrounding properties.

Portman is also a regular volunteer and longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, which helps provide affordable housing to low-income families. In July, Portman joined Owens Corning and the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity in a major neighborhood revitalization project known as the “Buckeye Build.” The Buckeye Build Project – which took place in Cleveland’s historic Buckeye Neighborhood – fully rehabilitated two houses on Grandview Avenue, and assisted approximately 15 current residents with exterior improvements, and provided new roofs and attic insulation for five homes.