The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the city of Long Beach $2.4 million to rehabilitate homes with lead-based paint, city officials said Friday, March 30.
The grant money will be used over the next three years to improve about 185 low-income housing units.
Interim City Health Officer Mauro Torno said the city has a large number of pre-1950s homes, which might have health risks such as lead-based paint, pest infestation and mold. “These HUD programs assist in identifying public health risks in the home and removing or controlling them,” Torno said.
About $180,000 of the grant will be directed to the city’s Healthy Homes Program to reduce housing-related environmental hazards contributing to asthma and allergies.
The city will target homes in downtown, central and North Long Beach.
