2008 Program Guidelines

With local and grant funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, the mission of the Lead Safe Columbus Program is to generate lead-safe affordable housing and to prevent lead poisoning of children and adults in Columbus neighborhoods. This program may provide funding to eligible property owners for lead-based paint hazard control in tenant or owner occupied units. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $8,000 in grant funds and a 0% interest loan for any funds needed above the $8,000 grant.

Lead Safe Columbus also has an extensive hand washing outreach campaign to help children learn good hand washing habits. Hand washing is the most economical way to interrupt lead poisoning.  Click here for a link to the Columbus Kids homepage and listen to the "Hand Washing" video and song in English and Spanish. You may also download a free hand washing song and video using the following instructions:

• With your mouse, place the arrow on the hand washing picture, or English Version, or Spanish version link.
• Click the right button on your mouse.
• Select "Save Target As..."
• Choose the location you want to save the video, such as on your computer desktop, or on a compact disc.
• Click "Save".

For more information on the benefits of hand washing, please click here.

Geographic Location

Properties receiving lead-based paint hazard control must be within the City of Columbus corporation limits, with preference given to units that are within the 1950 city limits and Empowerment Zones. 

Eligible Properties

Eligible properties for lead-hazard control must meet the following conditions: constructed on or before 1978, and contain one or more residential units where at least 51% of the floor space is used for residential purposes; may be owner or tenant occupied; single family, multi-family, or multi-family units. 

The following priorities have been established for lead-hazard control work: owner or tenant occupied with children who have been found to have levels of lead in their blood that is equal to or greater than 10 ug/dl and referred by the Columbus Health Department; where children under the age of 6 years old are residing or will likely reside in the near future; units within the 1950 city limits and Empowerment Zones; units that have 2 or more bedrooms per unit. Units may be vacant or occupied. 

Eligible Applicants

If the applicant is an owner/occupant of the structure they must meet income guidelines of 80% or below area median income (AMI). The applicant may also be an investor/owner defined as: sole proprietor; partnership; non-profit or for profit corporation. For investor/owners, income guidelines do not apply, but their tenants must meet income guidelines. 

NOTE: Total household income includes the income of all adults 18 years of age and older living in the home.

For tenant occupied units, half of the units assisted must be occupied by tenants whose income is at or below 50% of the AMI and the other half may be at or below 80% of the AMI as established by HUD regulations. 

Rents must be kept affordable for a period of not less than 3 years after the completion of lead hazard control activities. Restrictive Covenants are filed at the County courthouse to assure compliance with the Income Guidelines.

If you are interested in applying for a grant please complete the documents below.

Application for Lead Grant

Residential Occupant Profile