Posts published in “Day: February 17, 2022”

Lead Abatement, Nuisance Abatement

Houston – Harris County Commissioners Court made significant investments in two environmental public health programs to protect children from lead exposure and demolish unsafe building structures in County neighborhoods.

The Lead Abatement Program received $20 million to expand its current efforts. Funding will increase the program’s capacity to reduce lead exposure among Harris County children.

Separately, $3 million was approved for the Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement Program to proactively reduce nuisance properties throughout the County. These unsafe structures pose a public nuisance and are a health and safety risk to area residents, including children.

Both programs received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

“The positive community health outcomes we can achieve through these two programs will benefit families in neighborhoods who reside near unsafe buildings or in older homes with lead paint,” said Harris County Public Health (HCPH) Executive Director Barbie Robinson. “Healthier people and communities promote healthier lives. In addition to improved quality of life and ensuring children can grow into healthy adults, there are other benefits such as lower health care costs, and safer neighborhoods.”