The Lead Safe Homes Program is funded through a grant from the Department of Health Services and administered by the Social Development Commission. The purpose of the program is to protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint in their homes.
Under this program, eligible homeowners and owners of rental properties can obtain grants to assist with eliminating lead-based paint hazards and creating lead-safe housing units.
The grants can be used for Lead Inspections/Risk Assessments to identify lead hazards and for the necessary housing rehabilitation to control or eliminate the identified lead hazards. Only lead-based paint can be remediated with this grant.
Eligibility Requirements
The Lead Safe Homes Program will only enroll homes in the program that meet all of these eligibility criteria.
Owner Occupied Properties:
- Privately owned
- Built before 1978
- Owner Occupied Homes who have at least one Medicaid or CHIP-eligible child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman, or a child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman who visits regularly* e.g. home of a family member, relative or child care where a child spends 3 hours a day on two separate days a week and a total of 60 hours per year.
- Current on all property taxes or have a tax payment plan in place, must provide proof of payment during the enrollment process
- Covered under a current homeowner’s insurance policy for at least the value of the structure. Documentation must be provided during the enrollment process
Rental Properties:
- Privately owned
- Built before 1978
- Occupied by tenants who have at least one Medicaid or CHIP-eligible child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman, or a child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman who visits regularly e.g. home of a family member, relative or child care where a child spends 3 hours a day on two separate days a week and a total of 60 hours per year.
- Current on all property taxes or have a tax payment plan in place, must provide proof of payment during the enrollment process
- Covered under a current homeowner’s insurance policy for at least the value of the structure. Documentation must be provided during the enrollment process
Frequently Asked Questions
Priority Selection(s) for the Lead Safe Homes Program
The Program will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to the following households:
- Housing that is subject to lead hazard reduction work orders issued by a local health department;
- The housing of children with blood lead levels meeting Wis. Stat. 254.11(9) definition for lead poisoning (≥5 µg/dL) that are not subject to lead hazard reduction work orders;
- Housing identified from specific target areas with high rates of both childhood lead poisoning and pre-1950 housing. Applications enrolled in this category may be put on-hold until priority 1 and 2 receive the services or additional funding is available.
What properties can be enrolled in Lead-Safe Homes Program?
Properties have to meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- Families with children or pregnant women living in or regularly visiting the home.
- Child or pregnant woman is eligible for Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus or
- Homes built before 1978 with old windows or chipping paint.
- Homes with currently paid taxes or enrolled in a tax payment plan.
- Homes properly insured for complete loss.
When a property is approved, what costs are covered under the Lead-Safe Homes Program?
- An assessment of the property.
- Lead-safe repairs, which may include new windows, doors, painting, and other household repairs. The scope of work will be developed based on the inspection report created by SDC and approved by DHS.
- A Lead-Safe Certificate.
How is the work completed?
SDC will select a qualified lead abatement contractor through a bidding process and ensure the contractor meets all the certification requirements.
Why should I participate in the Lead-Safe Homes Program?
- Homeowners: The program covers 100% of the costs to make your home lead-safe.
- Landlords: The program covers between 85 – 100% of the costs to make your rental properties lead-safe. Although you may need to contribute the remaining portion of the costs not covered, the return on investment will be substantial.
- Renters: There is no cost to you. Encourage your landlord to apply today!
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Lead Safe Homes Program
The Lead Safe Homes Program is funded through a grant from the Department of Health Services and administered by the Social Development Commission. The purpose of the program is to protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint in their homes.
Under this program, eligible homeowners and owners of rental properties can obtain grants to assist with eliminating lead-based paint hazards and creating lead-safe housing units.
The grants can be used for Lead Inspections/Risk Assessments to identify lead hazards and for the necessary housing rehabilitation to control or eliminate the identified lead hazards. Only lead-based paint can be remediated with this grant.
Eligibility Requirements
The Lead Safe Homes Program will only enroll homes in the program that meet all of these eligibility criteria.
Owner Occupied Properties:
- Privately owned
- Built before 1978
- Owner Occupied Homes who have at least one Medicaid or CHIP-eligible child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman, or a child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman who visits regularly* e.g. home of a family member, relative or child care where a child spends 3 hours a day on two separate days a week and a total of 60 hours per year.
- Current on all property taxes or have a tax payment plan in place, must provide proof of payment during the enrollment process
- Covered under a current homeowner’s insurance policy for at least the value of the structure. Documentation must be provided during the enrollment process
Rental Properties:
- Privately owned
- Built before 1978
- Occupied by tenants who have at least one Medicaid or CHIP-eligible child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman, or a child under 19 years of age or pregnant woman who visits regularly e.g. home of a family member, relative or child care where a child spends 3 hours a day on two separate days a week and a total of 60 hours per year.
- Current on all property taxes or have a tax payment plan in place, must provide proof of payment during the enrollment process
- Covered under a current homeowner’s insurance policy for at least the value of the structure. Documentation must be provided during the enrollment process
Frequently Asked Questions
Priority Selection(s) for the Lead Safe Homes Program
The Program will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to the following households:
- Housing that is subject to lead hazard reduction work orders issued by a local health department;
- The housing of children with blood lead levels meeting Wis. Stat. 254.11(9) definition for lead poisoning (≥5 µg/dL) that are not subject to lead hazard reduction work orders;
- Housing identified from specific target areas with high rates of both childhood lead poisoning and pre-1950 housing. Applications enrolled in this category may be put on-hold until priority 1 and 2 receive the services or additional funding is available.
What properties can be enrolled in Lead-Safe Homes Program?
Properties have to meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- Families with children or pregnant women living in or regularly visiting the home.
- Child or pregnant woman is eligible for Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus or
- Homes built before 1978 with old windows or chipping paint.
- Homes with currently paid taxes or enrolled in a tax payment plan.
- Homes properly insured for complete loss.
When a property is approved, what costs are covered under the Lead-Safe Homes Program?
- An assessment of the property.
- Lead-safe repairs, which may include new windows, doors, painting, and other household repairs. The scope of work will be developed based on the inspection report created by SDC and approved by DHS.
- A Lead-Safe Certificate.
How is the work completed?
SDC will select a qualified lead abatement contractor through a bidding process and ensure the contractor meets all the certification requirements.
Why should I participate in the Lead-Safe Homes Program?
- Homeowners: The program covers 100% of the costs to make your home lead-safe.
- Landlords: The program covers between 85 – 100% of the costs to make your rental properties lead-safe. Although you may need to contribute the remaining portion of the costs not covered, the return on investment will be substantial.
- Renters: There is no cost to you. Encourage your landlord to apply today!
For those who need language translations, please download the following Google Translate extension for your browser type:
Google Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-translate/aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb
Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/google-translator-for-firefox/
Safari: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-translate/aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb