*Appropriate grant for $7,750,000 from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 2024 City of Portland Lead & Healthy Home Supplemental Grant
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Portland Housing Bureau applied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a grant in the amount of $7,750,000 for the 2024 City of Portland Lead & Healthy Home Supplemental Grant on August 15, 2024; and
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has notified the City of Portland that it will award a grant for the 2024 City of Portland Lead & Healthy Home Supplemental Grant to the Housing Bureau in the amount of $7,750,000;
- The Portland Housing Bureau will provide $793,928 CDBG in match dollars to the grant.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
The FY 2024/2025 budget is hereby amended as follows:
GRANT FUND
Fund: 217
Business Area: HC
Bureau Program Expenses: $875,000
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because a delay would unnecessarily delay the City’s ability to perform the activities authorized by the grant; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
- Lead-based paint hazards are the number one environmental health hazard facing American children. Research has indicated that low levels of lead exposure significantly affect IQ, reading and learning ability, attention span and behavior. Population studies show that one in ten Latino, Native American, and African American children residing in the City of Portland have lead concentrations in their blood greater than the federal acceptable level.
- The Portland Housing Bureau responded to a Notice of Funding Availability for Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are available to undertake lead-based paint hazard control activities, training of low-income workers to become certified Lead Hazard Abatement Workers, and for community outreach and education. Supplemental funding to address in-home health and safety hazards was also made available through the Healthy Homes Program.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has notified the City of Portland that it will award a grant for $7,750,000 in federal funds.
- The grant for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires a minimum of ten percent (10%) local match. The total local match for this grant is $793,928. Most of the local match will be provided in the form of community education and outreach funding using Community Development Block Grant.
- This legislation would authorize accepting an award (and appropriating a portion of the funds) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a grant in the amount of $7,000,000 for the implementation of lead-based paint hazard control activities and $750,000 to address in-home health and safety hazards and for the administration of these activities.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
The lead hazard and healthy homes grant will bring approximately $7,750,000 in federal funds to the community for a grant period of four years. The grant requires a minimum of 10% match being met mainly by a contribution from the Portland Housing Bureau in the form of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars that are used for lead poisoning education and outreach in the community through a sub-recipient contract. The Portland Housing Bureau will provide $793,928 CDBG in match dollars to the grant.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
The primary source of lead exposure for most Oregon children is from exposure to lead-based paint particles either inside or outside of older homes where lead-based paint may be chipping, or where renovation deposits lead-based paint dust. Lead-based paint can be found in homes built before 1978, with homes built before 1950 posing the greatest risk. The effects of lead poisoning can be permanent. In children, lead can cause reduced IQ, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and kidney and liver damage. Lead is also harmful to adults. This award will be expected to accomplish the follow objectives: - Support public education and outreach that furthers the goal of protecting children and other vulnerable populations from housing-related health and safety hazards; - Build local capacity to operate sustainable programs that will prevent and control housing-related environmental health and safety hazards in low- and very low-income residences, and develop a professional workforce that is trained in healthy homes assessment and principles; - Promote integration of this grant program with housing rehabilitation, property maintenance, weatherization, healthy homes initiatives, local lead-based paint hazard control programs, health and safety programs, and energy efficiency improvement activities and programs; - Create jobs that will mitigate toxic lead exposure and increase the number of contractors certified as lead assessors and supervisors. - Ensure to the greatest extent feasible that job training, employment, contracting, and other economic opportunities generated by this grant will be directed to low- and very-low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to businesses that provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons in the area in which the project is located. - Further environmental justice, the fair treatment, and meaningful involvement of all people within the target communities regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), familial status or income regarding the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
This grant application was submitted to continue funding support for an established program that has existed at the Portland Housing Bureau since 1996 and provides direct services to low-income households with children. The Lead grant will serve 136 households with 130 of those also utilizing the Healthy Homes grant.
100% Renewable Goal
This will not affect the City's 100% Renewable Goal.
Financial and Budget Analysis
The lead hazard and healthy homes grant will bring approximately $7,750,000 in federal funds to the community for a grant period of four years. The grant requires a minimum of 10% match being met mainly by a contribution from the Portland Housing Bureau in the form of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars that are used for lead poisoning education and outreach in the community through a sub-recipient contract. The Portland Housing Bureau will provide $793,928 CDBG in match dollars to the grant.