Milwaukee County program aims to make low-income, suburban households safe from lead

Low-income homeowners with children in suburban Milwaukee County communities have a new opportunity to reduce the risks of lead paint in their households.

The County’s Lead Abatement Program will bring lead remediation services to up to 200 low-income owner-occupied housing units in Milwaukee County communities, excluding the City of Milwaukee, through interest-free loans.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced the initiative Nov. 5 during a morning news conference at a rehabbed and foreclosed Wauwatosa home off West Bluemound Road alongside county and Wauwatosa leaders.

“Lead poisoning is preventable, but it remains a serious threat to public health, especially for children in communities with older homes,” Crowley said in a press release following the announcement.

Lead can be found in paint, soil, dust and water, and even the smallest exposure to lead can cause serious, long-term harm to children, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Homes built before 1978 are likely to have lead, and many homes in the county’s older communities like Wauwatosa were built well before that, according to city Mayor Dennis McBride, who joined Crowley at the news conference.

“There’s a good chance that a house in Wauwatosa will be covered in lead paint,” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The lead abatement program is funded by a $7.75 million federal grant and the county’s Community Development Block Grant funds, according to the release. It will operate under the county Department of Health and Human Services Housing Repair Program.

“The goal is simple: a lead-free home that allows children to grow up healthy and strong,” Diane Tsounis, the department’s housing services program manager, said in the release.

Who is eligible for the Milwaukee County Lead Abatement Program?

The county encourages residents of suburban communities who own and live in a home with predicted or confirmed lead-based paint to take advantage of the program and apply by calling 414-278-4917.

Applicants must have a child in the household who has an elevated blood lead level and meet certain income limits listed on the county’s housing website.

For example, a one-person household must earn $62,000 or less, and a two-person household must earn $70,850 or less.

Families can test their children for lead during a regular visit to their child’s doctor or by contacting their local health department. Here is a list of Milwaukee County community health departments for how to test children for lead.

Applicants must submit a number of documents, including their most recent federal income tax return, pay stubs from the last two months, and their Social Security statement.

How does the program work?

Depending on the county, those who qualify can apply online or by phone at the website and number listed below.

Licensed Senior Risk Assessors will conduct inspections of eligible homes to determine necessary repairs.

Repairs may include replacement of deteriorated siding, windows, porches and flooring. Assessors could also look at contaminated soil on the property.

How to Apply for the Milwaukee County Lead Abatement Program

Learn more about the program and apply by visiting the Lead Risk Reduction/Home Repair Program website or by calling 414-278-4917.

Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted atbfogarty@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Program will help low-income suburban homes in Milwaukee County use lead