AKRON, Ohio — During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it is awarding $5.6 million to Summit County and $4.6 million to the city of Akron.
The awards are part of nearly $45 million awarded across Ohio to protect residents from lead-based paint and home health hazards.
Summit County officials said the $5.6 million will be used to address lead hazards in 225 housing units and to perform healthy homes assessments in 200 units, working with other medical and social service providers.
The City of Akron said it will use the $4.6 million to address lead hazards in 250 housing units, perform healthy homes assessments in 115 units, and also work with other medical and social service providers.
The improvements aim to provide safer homes for low and very low-income families and children.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, an annual national public health education campaign aimed to bring lead poisoning prevention into focus, runs from Oct. 20 to Oct. 26.
RELATED: City Council passes legislation to force rental units to become lead safe by 2023
