News Summary
Cleveland is grappling with one of the highest rates of childhood lead poisoning in the nation, with about 1,500 children diagnosed annually. The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, established in 2019, has been slow to distribute funds aimed at improving the situation, facing a significant backlog in applications for lead safe certification. As many homes predate the lead paint ban of 1978, local contractors emphasize the urgent need for better financing and resources in low-income neighborhoods. With federal funding at risk due to slow allocation, immediate action is needed to protect children’s health.
Cleveland is facing a significant crisis as it struggles with one of the highest rates of childhood lead poisoning in the United States. Despite the city being allocated $90 million to combat this issue through the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, progress has been slow, with a reported backlog of about 1,000 applications for lead safe certification.
Approximately 1,500 children in Cleveland are diagnosed with lead poisoning each year, with rates remaining stagnant despite previous improvements. The alarming situation is exacerbated by the fact that almost 90% of the city’s housing stock was built before 1978 when lead-based paints were banned. This reality creates an environment where children are at heightened risk of lead exposure, which can lead to severe developmental issues and long-term health challenges.
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition was established in 2019 to mitigate lead hazards in homes by providing grants for lead abatement to property owners. The city’s lead safe certification process involves three phases: a risk assessment, abatement work performed by certified contractors, and clearance testing to ensure that homes are safe after abatement. However, the current program has not successfully eliminated lead hazards, as illustrated by continuing lead poisoning cases in homes that have received certification.
Local contractor Todd Knight, who has 15 years of construction experience, turned to lead abatement after his daughter suffered from lead poisoning as a child. Knight, who sees about 70% of his work stemming from child lead poisoning cases, emphasized the lack of available financing for lead abatement in low-income neighborhoods. While the Coalition has funding available, the majority of Knight’s projects continue to be financed through private sources, indicating a significant need for better support and resources in underserved areas.
To address the slow distribution of funds, the Lead Safe Coalition is implementing changes to expedite grant awards. This includes increasing the number of grant administrators from one to three and removing the $20,000 grant cap. The Coalition aims to complete 237 abatement units in the current fiscal year, a notable increase from the 423 units completed in the initial five years of the program.
Currently, property owners interested in lead safe certification are asked to fill out preliminary interest forms instead of formal applications. This process is prioritizing rental property owners and those with children present, yet the backlog remains a significant concern. With community leaders warning that the city risks losing $11.9 million in federal funding due to slow allocation of funds, immediate action is essential.
Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration is exploring public-private partnerships to streamline lead abatement efforts in Cleveland. One such initiative includes hiring Next Generation Construction to aid in the city’s response. Despite the city’s efforts, the lack of sufficient lead abatement contractors poses another hurdle in addressing the widespread lead poisoning problem.
Experts have long noted that lead exposure poses severe risks to children’s health, contributing to developmental delays, irritability, and potential lifelong challenges. Cleveland’s administration has announced future strategies aimed at enhancing risk assessments, expediting the abatement process, and targeting the removal of lead hazards in homes. With community frustration mounting, there is a growing call for more aggressive measures to safeguard the health of the city’s children and ensure that available funding is effectively utilized.
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Additional Resources
- Spectrum News: Lead Abatement Cleveland Coalition
- Cleveland.com: Cleveland Bets on New Plan to Fight Lead Poisoning
- News 5 Cleveland: 1,500 Kids in Cleveland Poisoned a Year
- Wikipedia: Lead Poisoning
- Cleveland.com: Inadequate Steps to End Lead Poisoning in Children
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lead
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
