Get the Lead Out--Finding Money to Help With Lead Abatement

Lead poisoning is a silent risk for children living in older homes.  Most homes built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paints, and may have flaked-off paint chips, or have lead-based paint in the soil near the house.  It's easy for children to ingest this lead and suffer brain damage from it.  Statistics indicate that lead abatement programs (and the change of paint formulas over the last 40 years) are working to reduce lead poisoning.  But if you live in older housing, and need lead abatement, you may be eligible for financial help. 

In Ohio, there are several lead poisoning centers around the state where you can inquire about getting your child's lead level tested.  Or you can contact your local health department.  In Toledo, Ohio, people who make less than 80% of the median income for the area may be eligble for an interest-free loan repayable upon sale of the house, or death of owner, to help pay for the cost of lead abatement.  A new program in six northwest Ohio counties-- Allen, Ottawa, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood--can help homeowners in those areas with the cost of lead abatement through WSOS, the community action agency.  For more information on this program, call 1-877-LEAD SAFE.

In Massachusetts, homeowners may be eligible for a tax credit for lead abatement costs in their homes as well as grants.   Rhode Island also has a tax abatement program.

If you live in other parts of the country, check out Lead Free Kids for local contractors and government agencies in charge of assisting citizens with lead abatement.  Another place to look for possible lead abatement money is at a community action agency that covers where you live. See this directory for a CAA near you.

Could You Use Some Financial Coaching and Advice? It May Be Out There.

What’s a financial opportunity center?  It’s a place where low or moderate income people can go to get help in setting long-term financial goals, like savings and investment, from people who aren’t selling products.  They can help think about where you would like to be financially in the long term, and how to use resources in your community like job training, benefits and income tax preparation as tools to get there.  This goes beyond “emergency help” and works to get people to the next level, where they are planning on creating financial assets and growing them for the long run.

 In north Toledo, ONE North has created a financial opportunity center at 2860 Lagrange Street near Dexter for people living in north Toledo. The phone number is (419) 724 5640.  You can get “financial coaching” to achieve your financial goals, income tax preparation, and financial education opportunities, like the budgeting and banking class on July 13th, or the class on credit and loans on July 23rd. 

But Toledo is just one city with financial opportunity centers.  Other places include Detroit, Houston, Cincinnati, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Chicago, Indianapolis, San Diego and more.  They are funded in cooperation with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), a national nonprofit, but they are run by local nonprofits in their cities.  Look for the local LISC office in your area and ask if there is a local nonprofit with such programs.  They can tell you if they have a local nonprofit partner that provides such services.

New Money to Prevent Foreclosures

Fresh money is being pouring into the fight against foreclosure in 17 states. The Hardest Hit Fund is being strengthened in the ten states that originally got two rounds of cash—Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Rhode Island—and seven new states: Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. These are all areas that have experienced unemployment rates higher than the national average. In total, $3 billion will go towards helping out homeowners whose ability to pay their mortgages was hit by an event such as the loss of a job. Homeowners may be eligible for up to $50,000 in interest-free loans to cover mortgage interest and principle, mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, and taxes until they are employed once again and can resume their home payments.
Other states with unemployment higher than the national average may apply for housing funds, too. Right now, each state is responsible through their state housing agency for their own particular guidelines. If you are a resident of one of these states, contact your housing authority (links above) to see when the rollout will be for your state. For instance, Ohio’s is September 27th. Remember that while the general purpose is the same, each state will have its own rollout date AND eligibility rules. Finally, other states may apply for money, too, so if you are in a high-employment state or locality, check your housing authority or foreclosure resources in your state.

***Update: for states not covered by this, a new program has emerged in 2011.