St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

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FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan City of South Bend, IN SP-65 Lead-based Paint Hazards - 91.415, 91.215(i) Actions to address LBP hazards and increase access to housing without LBP hazards The revised Federal lead-based paint regulations published on September 15, 1999 (24 CFR Part 35) have had a significant impact on many activities — rehabilitation, tenant based rental assistance, and property acquisition—supported by the CDBG program. The St. Joseph County Housing Consortium and the City of South Bend will comply with Title 24 Part 35: Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention in Certain Residential Structures (Current Rule). The St. Joseph County Housing Consortium and the City of South Bend will ensure that: • Applicants for rehabilitation funding receive the required lead-based paint information and understand their responsibilities. • Staff properly determines whether proposed projects are exempt from some or all lead-based paint requirements. • The level of federal rehabilitation assistance is properly calculated and the applicable lead-based paint requirements determined. • Properly qualified personnel perform risk management, paint testing, lead hazard reduction, and clearance services when required. • Required lead hazard reduction work and protective measures are incorporated into project rehabilitation specifications. • Risk assessment, paint testing, lead hazard reduction, and clearance work are performed in accordance with the applicable standards established in 24 CFR Part 35. • Required notices regarding lead-based paint evaluation, presumption, and hazard reduction are provided to occupants and documented. • Program documents establish the rental property owner's responsibility to perform and document ongoing lead-based paint maintenance activities, when applicable. Program staff monitor owners for compliance with ongoing lead-based paint maintenance activities, when applicable. How are the actions listed above related to the extent of lead poisoning and hazards? Lead-based paint in St. Joseph County is most common in older rental housing. Older owner-occupied housing also has lead-based paint,but it is unlikely that homeowners will communicate the presence of lead to inspectors. Lead-based paint is common in the walls of housing and soil around these houses has tested positive for lead. There is a shortage of certified lead abatement workers in the region. Elevated childhood blood lead levels were found in 1.29%of children tested in St.Joseph County according to the Indiana State Department of Health. According to the St. Joseph County Health Department, in some parts of the City of South Bend, 20% of children have elevated blood lead levels, and in one Census Tract, 30% of children have elevated blood lead levels (according to 2005-2015 lead screening data). Because the affordable housing in the area frequently has lead-based paint,there is a need to provide assistance to those looking to complete lead abatements but may not have the financial means to do so. OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 165