Free Services Available to Help Make Sure Your Home is Lead Safe

MICHIGAN’S LEAD SAFE HOME PROGRAM

The Lead Safe Home Program at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offers assistance to low and moderate- income families, as well as Rental Property Owners, in making their homes lead-safe for children. The Program has made over 2,600 homes lead-safe since March, 1998.  Hundreds of young children now live in housing made lead safe through our program.

What is the Lead Safe Home Program?

If you are eligible for the Lead Safe Home Program, we will provide a FREE Lead Inspection On your home and an average of $10,000 or more in work to make your home lead-safe, including items such as new windows, doors, painting and cleaning. Both rental properties and owner occupied properties are eligible.

To qualify for the Lead Safe home Program, you must meet ALL criteria in EITHER Option 1 OR Option 2 but are not required to meet both options:

OPTION 1:  

OPTION 2:  

In addition, eligibility is also based on condition of home and estimated cost of fixing lead hazards. In some target areas, it may be necessary that you first apply to the local lead program covering your area.  Finally, please note that each family may receive different repairs based on where lead hazards are identified and the option above in which your family is eligible.   

Priority will be given to families meeting the following criteria:

° Your child or a visiting child has an elevated blood lead level
° Your home is occupied by a pregnant woman.
° Your home was built prior to 1940.
° Your home is used as an in-home daycare.

The following commitments must be made by the household:

• Allow field staff into your home to inspect for lead before and after the project
• Children under 6 years old must have blood tests for lead before and 6 months after the project.
• Most likely, the family must move out of the home during project construction.
• May be asked to contribute to the project in some way, either money or labor.How does the Lead Safe Home Program work?
• In return, you’ll receive an average of $10,000 or more in work on your home, including items such as new windows, doors, painting and cleaning. Since each home is different, this depends on the size and condition of your home, as well as the location where lead-based paint is found.   At the end of the work, you’ll have peace of mind, that your home is now safe for young children!

1. Complete an application. Follow the directions carefully.
2. Funding is provided as follows:

   Owner Occupied: Grant funds will be provided towards lead hazard control. The homeowner may be asked to contribute a small amount to project cost.    
   Rental Properties: Grant funds will be provided, dependent upon certain criteria of your property. The remaining costs must be paid by the rental property owner.

3. Program field staff will contact you to visit the home to conduct an initial site visit and to determine if the home meets basic housing code standards.
4. If approved for the Lead Safe Home Program, a field staff will come back to your home and do a full lead inspection/risk assessment at no cost to find areas that are hazardous to young children.
5. Based on this inspection, the field staff will write a list detailing what needs to be fixed to make the home lead-safe.
6. The field staff will bid and contract with a state-certified lead abatement contractor to perform the work. The hazard reduction work typically takes 5-10 days to complete but may take longer. You will be required to relocate from the house, at your own expense, during construction on the inside of the home.
   
   For more information visit: www.michigan.gov/leadsafe
   Call toll-free (866) 691-LEAD (5323) for an application or for help to complete.
   Lead Safe Home Program- Healthy Homes Section
   Lansing, MI 48909 
   PO Box 30037

Michigan’s Lead Safe Home Program Details & Application