WASHINGTON D.C., DC — More than $16 million in federal funding will be distributed to the cities of Bridgeport, Norwich and Waterbury to reduce lead-based paint hazards and protect children from lead poisoning.
The funds will come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development after being awarded through the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program.
Waterbury will receive $7 million, Bridgeport will be allotted $6,006,105, and Norwich will get $3,157,991.
A collaboration between U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT0 and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jim Himes (CT-04) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) helped Connecticut earn the funding. The elected officials made the announcement on Wednesday.
“Over $16 million will protect families across Connecticut from exposure to the pernicious poison that is lead in their homes,” Blumenthal said. “Lead poisoning causes detrimental and irreversible damage, especially to children. Currently, more than 1,000 Connecticut children are affected by lead each year, and I am proud that federal funding will work to address this dire crisis.”
Murphy believes that investing in lead paint removal will protect Connecticut communities from lifelong, devastating affects of lead poising.
“This $16 million in funding will help mitigate lead-based paint hazards in older homes, maintain affordable housing and provide resources to ensure families in Bridgeport, Norwich and Waterbury can address other health and safety concerns,” Murphy said.
He added that there is no safe level of lead exposure and pledged to keep fighting to ensure everyone in Connecticut has a safe and healthy place to live.
Courtney said his office was pleased to lead the federal effort to advocate on behalf of Norwich and bring federal funding home to make sure fewer children are exposed to the serious dangers of lead paint.
“The federal funding award is a clear testament to the outstanding work executed by the city, Wayne Sharkey, his team and the hours and hours they spent on this application to continue their life-saving work,” Courtney said.
According to Himes, many New England homes and apartments were constructed before people were knowledgeable about the dangers posed by lead paint exposure, especially to young children.
“The over $6 million in federal funding Bridgeport will receive will allow the city to expand its remediation efforts and help ensure children are no longer exposed to lead paint’s harmful effects,” Himes said. “When coupled with the Governor’s Lead Free CT Campaign, this investment brings us closer to eliminating lead contaminants in Connecticut for once and for all.”
The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program focuses on fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing and improving communities and the health of children and families living in them.
Beyond addressing lead-based paint hazards, HUD also provides healthy homes supplemental funding to address other housing-related health and safety issues.
----
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
