Westmoreland officials hope county homeowners with children will help get the lead out of their residences.
Funded through a $3.4 million federal grant that began in January, the newly formed Lead Safe Westmoreland program is seeking both homeowners to take part in the lead abatement program and contractors to help perform the work.
“The focus is on homes built before 1978, when they stopped making lead-based paint,” said Londe Dandar, intake clerk and interviewer for Lead Safe Westmoreland. “Families have to have children under 6 years old living there or visiting on a regular basis, and they have to meet the income guidelines.”
Much of Westmoreland’s housing stock predates 1978, Dandar said. Lead paint can typically be found on windows, doors, porches, railings, siding and trim.
Eligible families will interview with Dandar, who will have a certified risk assessor visit and perform a free assessment.
“Normally, those can cost up to $1,500,” Dandar said.
A secondary “Healthy Homes” grant will also help with things that could be contributing to chipping lead paint.
“For example, if the roof is leaking and that is causing lead paint to bubble and chip, that could be replaced as well,” Dandar said.
Rental properties are eligible, although the landlord would have to complete part of the Lead Safe Westmoreland application.
The goal over the three-year life of the grant is to perform work on 142 homes, although Dandar said that number could shift depending on the price of construction materials.
“Right now, we’re looking for contractors to do the work,” she said. “They have to be licensed, but if they don’t have training in lead abatement, the program will pay for that. They do, however, have to registered with the EPA, and there is a cost associated with that.”
Contracting supervisors will take a separate certification class from their workers. Any contractor interested in applying can call 724-689-1612.
Families seeking to enroll in Lead Safe Westmoreland can call Dandar at 724-830-3366 or email ldandar@co.westmoreland.pa.us.
“The goal is to help families who typically couldn’t afford to do this on their own,” Dandar said.
