The City of Cleveland has successfully met a critical deadline to utilize an $11.1 million federal grant aimed at removing lead hazards from homes in the Glenville neighborhood. This effort comes as a relief to residents, particularly families with young children who face high rates of lead poisoning, which can cause irreversible developmental and behavioral issues.
By the end of May, Cleveland had completed work on 67 homes and secured contracts for 81 more, allowing the city to utilize the grant funds for construction over the next six months. This achievement marks a significant improvement from earlier in the year when it seemed unlikely that the city would meet its target of making 148 homes lead-safe.
Rebecca Maurer, the mayor’s senior advisor for lead accountability, credited the city’s community development team and partners for their efforts. “We’re unbelievably proud of the work to get to 100% or near 100% of the federal government’s goals,” Maurer stated.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. The city must complete construction on the remaining 81 homes within 120 days to fully utilize the grant. There is a risk that some homes may drop out if contractors cannot finish the work in time, potentially leaving some grant money unspent.
Earlier this year, Cleveland lost $3.3 million in state funding for lead paint removal, highlighting the city’s historical struggles with managing lead abatement funds. Maurer’s recent report identified bureaucratic hurdles such as ineffective technology and strict eligibility rules as factors slowing progress. In response, the city has implemented new deadlines for each step of the process, such as limiting lead risk assessments to eight days and environmental reviews to 14 days.
Looking ahead, Cleveland faces additional deadlines for two more federal grants. A $5.7 million grant for citywide lead paint safety and a $2 million grant for improving housing conditions, including lead safety, are set to expire in the coming months. As of last December, only 35% and 45% of these grants had been spent, respectively.
Maurer emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing these challenges, noting that staff began strategizing for the next grants immediately after closing the Glenville grant. “That is absolutely on everybody’s mind,” she said.
Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.
