Henderson Gets Money to Clean Up Lead-Contaminated Houses | Environment

The city of Henderson is getting more than $2 million to help protect kids from lead

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the money to two local projects in Henderson that are designed to rid homes of lead-based paint.

The city will use the money to address lead hazards in 74 housing units that are home to low and very low-income families with children. It will also perform healthy home assessments on 50 more units.

The money is part of $98 million awarded to 38 projects across the country to clean up lead paint hazards, train workers on how to handle properties contaminated with lead and to educate people about the problem.

HUD estimates about 24 million homes around the country still have significant lead-based hazards, even though lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978.

Lead is a known toxin that can impair a child’s development and have effects into adulthood.