Responding to the elevated levels of lead in the blood of children in Lancaster County, Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) - part of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health - began offering Lead-Free Families, a program aimed at eliminating the threat of lead in homes in the county.

Out of the Lead-Free Families program grew a new program called Healthy Homes. "Lead-Free Families was all about addressing lead hazards in properties in Lancaster County," explained Marisol Maldonado, manager of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. "We quickly realized these homes had other needs outside of lead hazards." Those needs included missing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, a lack of railings and grab rails, and leaking roofs. "We realized if we address the chipping and peeling paint, the roof leak will just destroy what we have done," noted Maldonado, who soon was looking for ways to help address other hazards in area homes.

Working with the grants office at LGH, Lead-Free Families applied for a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant to fund Healthy Homes. The three-year grant of $2 million to address health hazards identified in Lancaster County homes that qualify was up and running in July of 2022.

"(Healthy Homes) is for owner-occupied properties," explained Maldonado, who noted that the income requirement to qualify for the program is 80% of the area median income for Lancaster County. "For a family of four, the limit is $76,400," she noted. According to Maldonado, when possible, Lead-Free Families and Healthy Homes work hand in hand, but Healthy Homes is also offered alone for seniors who have needs in their homes but do not necessarily have children living there. Mobile homes located on property owned by the home's inhabitant may qualify.

Area residents can connect with Healthy Homes through local hubs such as CrossNet Ministries in New Holland, Together Initiative Network in Pequea Valley, or The Candy Factory in Lancaster city. Leaha Shermeyer, outreach coordinator for Lead-Free Families, takes information about both programs to local organizations. "We want to let people know this is not just for families with children," said Maldonado. "It can be for any home in Lancaster County where they are experiencing something that impacts the health of the family."

"When we go in, we assess (the home for health and safety hazards)," explained Maldonado. If there are more hazards than Healthy Homes can address with HUD funds the hazards are prioritized. The issues that cannot be addressed by Healthy Homes are pointed out to homeowners, and they are educated about ways to remedy those.

Healthy Homes has set a goal of assisting 176 county homeowners over the life of the grant. "By 2024, we will apply again, so there will be no gap in services," said Maldonado. Once an applicant is approved, it generally takes about four months to complete repairs. More information about the program may be found at https://tinyurl.com/2epzkr9x.