The City of Minneapolis has secured a $2.48 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help to reduce lead in city homes.

The City will use the grant dollars to reduce lead-based paint hazards in 200 dwelling units throughout the city. The focus will be on homes built before 1940 in areas of Minneapolis historically known for their concentration of rental units, poverty, and reported lead poisoning in children under the age of six. This program will continue to allow the City to focus intensively on primary prevention in critical neighborhoods, while continuing to address the needs of children who have already become lead poisoned.

In 2011, 74 children were lead poisoned in Minneapolis. Lead poisoning, can slow a child’s growth, damage hearing, cause behavior problems, and makes it harder for children to concentrate or do well in school. Lead poisoning is completely preventable.  Parents and other caregivers need to know how to protect children from lead exposure and property owners need to make sure all painted surfaces are intact and use lead safe work practices during property maintenance.

A strategic City-wide education and outreach effort about lead poisoning prevention strategies has led to the increase in children being screened for lead poisoning in recent years.  In 2010, 7,583 children between the ages of one and two were screened for lead poisoning in Minneapolis.

The efforts of the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the Minnesota Department of Health, and many community-based partners have also been effective in reducing the number of elevated cases within the City of Minneapolis. In 2002 there were 322 children between the ages of one and two who had elevated blood lead levels in Minneapolis.  In 2010, only 120 children in the city between the ages of one and two had elevated lead levels.

Lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 remains the primary source of lead poisoning for children. In Minnesota, there are an estimated one million homes that contain lead paint. But other sources exist as well: lead in toys, chalk, plumbing and even some foods. Other ways children could come in contact with lead include, but are not limited to, remodeling being done in the home, someone in the household who works with lead (paint removal, remodeling, electronics, ceramics, automotive repair), and or playing outside in soil or sand that maybe contaminated (contaminated soil is more likely near busy roads, highways or within two feet of a house or garage that was painted with lead paint).

For more information about lead poisoning prevention visit the City’s website.

Since 2008, the City of Minneapolis has helped nearly 350 home buyers purchase homes in neighborhoods stressed by foreclosure through its Minneapolis Advantage Program. The forgivable loan program assists with down payment and closing costs, and helps rebuild neighborhoods, stabilize communities and promote sustainable home ownership.

Funding Available in 2012
Approximately $400,000, or around 25 loans, is available to help potential buyers purchase a foreclosed home in eligible neighborhoods. Based on income eligibility requirements, buyers within 80% of the area median income (approximately $64,000 for a four-member household) can receive up to $20,000 and buyers within 120% of the area median income (approximately $100,700 for a four-member household) can receive up to $10,000. These funds can be used to pay for closing costs and down payment assistance. For more information, call the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, program administrator, at 612-588-3033 or see Minneapolis Advantage Program–Mortgage Assistance.

Minneapolis Advantage partners

The success of this program has spurred additional investment from partners who also want to help with recovery. The City’s investment of $1.2 million in the program has leveraged an additional $3.2 million from Wells Fargo, Minnesota Housing, Federal Home Loan Bank Des Moines and through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Minneapolis Advantage Program performance

• All homes had to be foreclosed, vacant, or in a high foreclosure-impacted neighborhood
• Loan recipients purchased homes in 30 Minneapolis neighborhoods
• Nearly 350 homes have been purchased
• Nearly 60% of the home buyers moved to Minneapolis from elsewhere
• 89% of the recipients are first time home buyers
• 48% of the home buyers are between the ages of 31-50
• Average household size is two
• 49% of the homes’ purchase prices are less than $100,000; 39% of purchase prices are between $100,000-$150,000

Interested in purchasing a foreclosed home? Check out www.ownahomemn.org for a listing of foreclosed homes that have been renovated and are on the market; www.livemsp.org provides a directory of home buyer incentive programs and resources by neighborhood; www.hocmn.org offers resources and education to home buyers.

Last updated Feb. 7, 2012

To view the SHOP (Sustainable Home Ownership Program) Special Announcement, click on the link

Special Announcement