Kankakee, IL – As announced in a December 2018 Press Release, the City of Kankakee Community Development Agency was awarded $3,000,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and has launched a program to reduce lead poisoning in children. Hundreds of children in Kankakee have been identified as being lead poisoned. The effects of lead poison can be devastating, long term and often irreversible. The goal of the program is to help homeowners and landlords reduce lead hazards in their houses and apartments, primarily where children reside or are likely to reside. The Kankakee Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is a national program funded by H.U.D. in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Community Development Agency (CDA) is now taking applications for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. If your residence was built before 1978, you are more likely to have lead hazards around your home. Lead is especially poisonous for children under six years old, who can suffer permanent damage as a result of exposure. Elevated blood lead levels can harm a child’s brain and cause learning and behavior problems. The social costs of lead poisoning are enormous. Lead poisoning results in increased medical costs, increased special education costs, a reduction in future productivity and earnings, and has been linked to juvenile delinquency. 

The Community Development Agency has historically completed lead abatement on an average of 150 houses per each three (3) year grant cycle. With the increase in funding for the awarded 2018 Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding, the CDA team has a goal of 170 units in the next three (3) years. “Homes are where we start and end our day, where our children live and play, and where friends and family celebrate”, says executive director Barbi Brewer-Watson. “The City of Kankakee understands that a person’s health is directly related to the home and the Community Development Agency team desires to work with residents to help them create a healthier home for their family.”

For more information, or to find out if you qualify for lead mitigation, contact CDA at (815)933-0506 Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Visit us at kankakeehome.com.

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The City of Kankakee is dedicated to protecting, building and nurturing the community while enhancing lives. We are a historic, vibrant, and active riverfront community. We continue to transform into an extraordinary place to dream, grow, and thrive. Embracing our diversity, we strive to be progressive, inclusive, and innovative. For more information on the City of Kankakee, please visit the website at www.citykankakee-il.gov.

 

Download the Press Release