Governor Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that Virginia has been awarded $5.6 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help protect families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. The grants are provided through the federal Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program and Healthy Homes Production Grant Program.

“Every Virginia family deserves to live in a place that is free of lead, mold, and other hazardous materials,” said Governor Northam. “As a physician, and as governor, I understand the relationship between poor health and dangerous housing conditions. This funding will bolster our work to increase affordable, sustainable, and safe housing throughout the Commonwealth and support our ongoing efforts to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Virginians.”

Virginia received a $5 million grant from the Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program and $600,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The funding will help the Commonwealth address lead hazards in 232 housing units, providing safer homes for low- and very low-income families with children.

Virginia will also perform healthy homes assessments in 81 units, and work with other medical and social service providers. Virginia is one of only nine states and is among 77 state and local government agencies to receive funding from HUD through the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.