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WARREN -- Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership is seeking applicants to take advantage of funds made available for lead remediation through the state's Lead Safe Ohio program.
In December, TNP received $1.8 million from the Ohio Department of Development for lead abatement.
Mikenna McClurg, landbank housing coordinator with TNP, said the organization has until March 31 to have at least half of the funding from the Lead Safe Ohio program under contract, and it must have another 40% allocated by May 31.
According to the state's Lead Safe Ohio instruction booklet, a reallocation analysis will be done this June with a claw back for reallocation in July and a redistribution in August.
McClurg said the organization is seeking applications from homeowners and renters who income qualify. McClurg said to income qualify, interested individuals must be earning under 80% of the area median income.
McClurg said TNP's primary focus right now is income-qualified households that have children younger than 10 years old living in the home. Because of the March 31 deadline, McClurg said TNP also is opening the application window to certain investors such as landlords whose tenants include children.
"Kids are the most affected, so that's who we're really trying to focus on," McClurg said.
McClurg said TNP also identified properties included in its parcel inventory that have chipping or peeling paint on their exterior and sent letters to those property owners.
"People sometimes don't realize that they have lead paint, or that it could be causing major health issues, but chances are, if they have peeling or chipping paint, it may contain lead," McClurg said. "If that's the case, we may be able to provide new windows and siding at no cost."
McClurg recently spoke about the program at a Warren City Council meeting.
At that meeting, she said TNP is looking to mitigate the risk of lead in homes by installing new vinyl siding, new vinyl windows and doors as well as other things.
"There's no cost for the residents, there's no liens on houses, which sometimes happens, but not with this program," McClurg said at the meeting.
McClurg said TNP wanted to present the issue at the council meeting as the organization has not received the number of applicants it was expecting by this point.
"We expected to have people knocking down our doors for this help," McClurg said. "We have reached out to all the superintendents in Trumbull County. We reached out to Head Start, TCAP, anybody that was willing, they sent emails out to all their families and we're just not getting the response that we had hoped for," McClurg said.
McClurg also noted that there is a high need for lead abatement contractors or people who have their EPA renovation, repair and paint certificate to perform this work. Contractors interested in becoming lead certified should reach out to TNP.
Michael Keys, Warren community development director, said the program through TNP could benefit several residents throughout the city.
"For council members, this is a great, great opportunity," Keys said. "We do this same thing through HUD, but we have a lot of restrictions that Mikenna and her program does not have. Warren, a lot of the housing, because of the age of the housing stock, lead was used in all the paint. Whatever you do, get the word out to your residents, especially those who have children because lead poisoning for young children is amazing in this community."
McClurg said lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978.
McClurg said thus far, TNP has approved 24 applications which are either in the assessment phase or their work is out to bid.
She said those interested in the program should reach out to Hailey Zelinsky at 330-647-6301 or hailey@tnpwarren.org.