Naugatuck Valley property owners may be eligible to make lead-safe improvements to their residential property at up to a 75 percent savings, thanks to a new grant being launched by the Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD).
The NVHD was awarded a 3‑year, $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in January 2009 to help protect the youngest Valley residents from lead poisoning.
The grant is called the Naugatuck Valley Emends Lead Hazards (NauVEL) project.
NauVEL funds can help eligible residential property-owners to pay for lead-safe repairs, such as new casement windows.
CLICK HERE for complete information on the program from the Naugatuck Valley Health District.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Health District, the mayors of our Valley towns, and our Working Partners who all contributed to our success in winning this very competitive federal grant, we are so proud to announce that we are now accepting applications from residents of our six communities,” said Karen N. Spargo, NVHD Director of Health.
“Childhood lead poisoning is the number one cause of environmental disease in young children even though it is 100% preventable,” Spargo said. “This funding will help us to protect Valley children from lead hazards by helping property owners to make lead-safe repairs and improvements.”
To qualify for the funds, the property must:
- Be located within the six communities that comprise the Naugatuck Valley Health District: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour, and Shelton.
- Be pre-1978 construction containing lead hazards, and in condition to warrant investment.
- Be currently or potentially occupied by a child under the age of six, including a residence where a child under age six spends a significant amount of time visiting.
- Be the residence of owner-occupants and/or tenants who meet HUD regional income requirements to qualify for participation.
- Be up-to-date on mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
For more information on NauVEL, including eligibility screening and application kits, please contact the NauVEL office at 203 – 828-9925, or click here.
Lead Poisoning Is A Valley Problem
Health statistics indicate that lead poisoning is a significant problem in the Naugatuck Valley.
Forty-four children from the area were found to have elevated blood levels in CY 2007, the most recent statistics available from the state.
While even one case of childhood lead poisoning is a medical crisis for that child and his or her family, the health statistics also indicate that lead poisoning is an even greater problem than the 44 children affected in 2007 because in that year on average less than one-third of all the children aged 0 – 6 were screened for lead.
“Moving forward, we anticipate that more cases will be found in each town due to increased awareness of the problem plus new reporting/referral requirements for health care providers,” said Deborah Horvath, NVHD Assistant Director of Community Health.
Why?
The Valley tends to have older houses, where lead-based paint was commonly used.
“Although there has been substantial new construction throughout the Valley in recent years, census data show that 48 percent of Valley housing stock is, in fact, pre-1960 construction or even older,” said David Rogers, assistant director of environmental health for the district.
Lead-based pain was banned from residential use in 1978.
However, national statistics show:
- 24 percent of dwellings built 1960 – 1978 are likely to contain lead
- 69 percent of dwellings built 1940 – 1960 are likely to contain lead
- 87 percent of dwellings built before 1940 are likely to contain lead
Lead poisoning can cause a host of problems, especially for children and pregnant women.
In adults, lead poisoning can cause:
- High-blood pressure and hypertension
- Digestive and kidney problems
- Nerve disorders
- Memory and concentration problems
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fertility problems
