Representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) visited Memphis to commemorate National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and commend the efforts of city government in reducing the impact of lead in households and all types of buildings across the bluff city.
Memphis is the largest recipient of funds from HUD in Tennessee to eradicate lead-related hazards. Earlier this year, HUD announced that the city had been awarded a $5.7 million grant to make homes safer for low-income families. The ceremony marked the receipt of those funds, which should benefit between 125 to 200 homes.
According to Director Ashley Cash, some 300 households have benefitted from the Lead Safe Healthier Homes program since 2016. These funds will allow many more families to enjoy the benefits of a life without these types of hazards.