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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Carolyn Marinan, Hennepin County, 612-348-5969
Sarah McKenzie, City of Minneapolis, 612-673-2786
Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis partner with HUD and Lowe’s to repair lead, health hazards in four homes
What
During a one-day community build event and celebration, lead and other health hazards will be repaired in four north Minneapolis homes.
Press are invited to tour one of the homes and speak with the family living there. Staff from the County, City and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be available for comment on the work and broader impacts of HUD-funded lead and healthy homes grant programs.
Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis are partnering with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Lowe’s Home Improvements and other community partners to host the event and celebrate healthy neighborhoods.
Lowe’s Home Improvement will provide building materials and volunteers to help complete work on the four homes and present free home fixup giveaways.
Safety repairs being made at the home to be toured include:
- Replacing windows with lead paint contamination.
- Replacing a loose exterior handrail.
- Painting the living room and second floor.
- Replacing faulty light switches.
- Landscaping, including seeding grass and planting a flower bed.
When
2:30 p.m., Friday, May 17
Where
2654 Logan Ave. N., Minneapolis
More
Every year in Hennepin County, hundreds of children under the age of 6 are found to have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. Parts of north and south Minneapolis see some of the highest levels of lead contamination due to the number of homes built before 1978 — the year lead-based paint was banned.
Lead exposure can put young children at risk for brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems and other serious health concerns.
Lead poisoning is 100% preventable. Both Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis offer programs with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fix lead and other home health hazards such as asthma triggers, mold, radon and pests. These projects are typically completed at no or very low cost to qualified households.
In the last 20 years, the County and City have committed more than $70 million to fix lead and health hazards in more than 6,600 homes, preventing lead exposure for about 10,000 young children throughout the county. While the rate of elevated blood lead levels in children has dropped in recent years, there remain approximately 150,000 homes in Hennepin County built before 1978 potentially at risk for lead paint contamination.
To raise awareness and celebrate healthy neighborhoods, the community build event and celebration will also feature a health fair with free health and lead screenings, health vendors, activities for families, music, free food and more. The event will be held in Jordan Park, which is walking distance from the homes being repaired.
Other community partners include: Environmental Justice Coordinating Council, GAF Siding and Windows, Hmong International Academy, Jordan Area Community Council, Neighborhood Hub, Noir Fitness, North Market, Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, Rebuilding Together, Riverview Windows, Sustainable Resources Center, Wells Fargo and Wolfpack Printing.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
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