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March 9, 2021 – The Central New York Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative has received a $300,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to replace exterior doors and windows in rental units resided in by low-income individuals.
The EPA reports that chipping lead paint is the leading source of lead poisoning in the United States. Due to friction points from frequent opening and closing, doors and windows are the primary sources of paint chips and dust particles that contain lead. The renovations will be paid for by nonprofit housing and community development organization Home HeadQuarters at no cost to property owners through a deferred loan. Property owners will be required to retain ownership for a two-year compliance period, enforced through a lien placed on the property. Home HeadQuarters estimates that nearly 60 affordable rental units will have significant lead hazards removed through this effort. “Home HeadQuarters is pleased to again work with both the CNY Community Foundation and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to address some of our community’s most significant lead hazards,” said Home HeadQuarters CEO Kerry Quaqlia. “We all remain steadfast in our determination to ensure safe and healthy housing for our most vulnerable families and this funding and focus will play a large role in reaching those goals.” The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which awards grants to meet the unmet healthcare needs of individuals, families and communities throughout New York State, chose to support LeadSafeCNY for its potential to significantly improve the health and safety of children in Syracuse. “This program promises to prevent lifelong negative health ramifications of early lead exposure,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, CEO of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “We are pleased to help address such a vital need in the Syracuse community.” The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, more than 10 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2019 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. That rate is improved by nearly one percent from 2017. The Community Foundation’s efforts are primarily focused on Syracuse census tracts that were found in 2018 to have the highest blood lead levels in children. Among them is Census Tract 54, where a striking 43 percent of residents live below the poverty line. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, nearly 27 percent of that neighborhood’s children were found to have elevated lead levels in 2018. Surrounding communities show similar data with rates ranging from 20 to 22 percent. LeadSafeCNY grants distributed in the community to date total nearly $1 million. Outcomes so far have included the replacement of 600 windows and 79 doors and the development of 60 new, safe and affordable rental units. In addition, 41 trainings on the appropriate removal of lead paint have been conducted and thousands of individual contacts have been made to educate residents on the dangers of lead paint exposure. The Community Foundation also committed an additional $500,000 last year to form a loan loss reserve that will help Home HeadQuarters develop new lead-free homes in Syracuse neighborhoods. In an Action Statement published on its website, the Community Foundation states that it is taking action because “lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” yet it currently hinders children’s ability to enter the classroom ready to learn. Elevated blood lead levels in young children have been found to cause reduced brain function, impacting the skills needed for academic success, physical activity and social interaction. This can lead to a higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis, absenteeism, criminal behavior, violence and suicide. Lead is a toxin that affects the brain, nervous system and multiple organs in the human body. Children under the age of six and pregnant women living in homes that have chipping, flaking and peeling paint are most susceptible. A common source of ingestion is the inhalation of dust particles in the air from the friction of painted surfaces when windows, doors and cabinets are opened and closed. Syracuse’s aging housing stock is much to blame for the high rates of elevated lead levels in resident children. More than 90 percent of the city’s occupied units were built before lead paint was federally banned from use in 1978. Those interested in learning more about LeadSafeCNY or viewing local lead data can visit leadsafecny.org. Property owners interested in applying for the Windows & Doors program at Home HeadQuarters can visit www.homehq.org. ## About Central New York Community Foundation The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that collects contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of nearly $260 million and has invested more than $200 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time. For more information, visit https://www.cnycf.org/ About Mother Cabrini Health Foundation The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. The Foundation – which is named in memory of a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor – provides flexible support for new and innovative approaches that enhance health and wellness across New York State. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/ About Home HeadQuarters Home HeadQuarters is a non-profit neighborhood and housing development organization and certified Community Development Financial Institution that, since 1996, has helped almost 4,000 families become first-time homebuyers; provided nearly 10,000 homeowners with $105 million in home improvement loans and grants, and developed more than 800 formerly vacant and abandoned properties. This past year, Home HeadQuarters was named the number one home improvement lender in the NeighborWorks America network of more than 244 member organizations across the United States and for the past decade, has ranked as the leading lender to families of color living in Syracuse, out lending all other financial institutions combined. The organization is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, the country’s first designated Community Based Development Organization and is recognized nationally for its innovative loan products for homebuyers, homeowners, local minority contractors and “mom and pop” landlords who are unable to borrow from traditional lenders. Learn more at https://www.homehq.org/.
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  A deteriorating door to a Syracuse residence. Finding safe, lead-free housing in Syracuse was an issue before COVID-19 caused a global upheaval. But now, during a pandemic that has led to financial strain across our community, the risk of childhood lead poisoning is amplified.
New York State and the nation are currently in an eviction moratorium, which means that tenants who have experienced hardship due to the pandemic cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent. However, that may also mean that landlords who are not being paid rent are less apt to want to spend money on maintaining their properties. In addition, fears of contracting the virus are delaying maintenance schedules and inspection visits. “COVID-19 is complicating an already challenging story in our community,” said Debra Lewis, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program coordinator for the Onondaga County Health Department. “With maintenance being left undone, paint continues to deteriorate, which means that children may be living in hazardous lead conditions for a longer period of time.” Debra and her team find children with lead poisoning in a few different ways. The main indicator of lead poisoning is a blood test. If a child shows high levels of lead in their blood, the report is sent to the Health Department to investigate. They also may receive referrals from Section 8 housing. Any unit funded by Section 8 is referred to the Health Department and will be inspected if children under age six will be living in the home. Future or current renters may also call in to request an inspection. The process is generally called a lead inspection, but Lewis prefers the term “exposure investigation.” During the investigation, peeling and chipping painted surfaces are tested for lead in the child’s home. The exposure investigation also may require the inspector to go to any other property where the child spends time, like a grandmother’s house or childcare facility. The majority of childhood lead poisoning comes from paint and household dust, but lead can also be found in food, soil, spices, toys from discount chains and more. After an inspection, the property owner is expected to make the necessary repairs to reduce the amount of lead in the home. The Onondaga County team perform over 300 investigations per year, but they expect that number to be higher this year due to the CDC’s revision of “acceptable” blood lead level limits from ten to five micrograms per deciliter. The change, made in September 2019, drives the public health response leading to an exposure investigation and may result in nearly double the amount of inspections required this year. Tenants who are being exposed to high levels of lead often don’t have the funding to move, despite their desire to do so. Lewis noted, “If you can find affordable housing in our community, given the amount of money people have to spend on housing, and the age of local housing stock, the condition of the property is likely to both contain lead based paint and to be fraught with additional health and safety problems.” Recently, the Health Department received initiative LeadSafeCNY grant from the Community Foundation to help families who need to move after a lead exposure investigation has been completed, but that may lack the funding to do so. The Community Foundation’s endorsement follows a 4-year, $2 million commitment announced by the organization in late 2018 to help end childhood lead poisoning in the city. Since then, more than $780,000 has been awarded to nonprofit organizations. In an Action Statement published on its website, the Community Foundation states that it is taking action now because “lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” yet it currently hinders children’s ability to enter the classroom ready to learn. As a licensed social worker, Lewis is always looking at the intersection between person and environment. After ten years in her position at OCHD, and a lot of behind the scenes work with other organizations, she is grateful to see the recent lead ordinance that the Community foundation advocated for come to fruition in Syracuse. Lewis believes, “Every child deserves to live in a safe and healthy home; and every parent deserves to have the confidence that a home they have chosen will be maintained in a safe and healthy manner by the person who owns it.” She also stated that landlords should consider their rented housing as a business by following all local, state, and federal housing regulations. Owners can be held accountable by any regulatory entity for not addressing housing conditions impacting the health and safety of their renters. Additionally, on September 14, 2020, Syracuse passed an additional renter protection: Now, landlords who have failed to register their one-and-two-family rental homes will be barred from evicting tenants. Lewis assures her clients that the Health Department is still working hard to investigate all of their properties amid the pandemic. She is always happy to answer questions in the meantime. You can contact her at the Onondaga County Health Department’s office. For renters with lead poisoning concerns, call 2-1-1 or visit the CNY211 website to find the correct avenue for finding help.
The significant health risks associated with lead poisoning make awareness and education programs essential to every Syracuse resident, including those who don’t speak English. WCNY, the region’s local public broadcasting network, has created a way to communicate the complexities of this problem to all families, no matter the language they speak.
“Lead poisoning can cause permanent damages on our children and knowledge of those dangers gives people the power to put a stop to it,” said Debbie Stack, vice president of education and community engagement at WCNY. “We felt that expanding the languages of our awareness and education campaigns would be necessary to provide ALL families with those tools.” According to the Onondaga County Health Department, the effects of elevated blood lead levels span from affecting children’s comprehensive learning skills to damaging the brain and nervous system. The worst part is that many families are unaware of these impacts. With the help of a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation, WCNY launched a series of multilingual public service announcements to ensure all families receive the same level of information. The new series will run over the course of a 3-year period and will highlight the concerns about lead paint being in people’s homes, bring awareness to the health risks of lead, feature success stories of individuals who have removed lead from their home, and inform the community about the 211 hotline they can contact for more information. During the pandemic, the risk of lead exposure increased as many families were confined to their homes where lead is present. “The drive to educate and inform families, especially during a pandemic, has been a challenge,” said Stack. “Some families do not have access to the major communication channels that are typically used and other forms of contact where they were receiving information have been limited because of COVID-19.” National studies have shown that WCNY, a PBS station, is the highest rated channel to enter the homes of hard-to-reach households. The organization will use the series to spread awareness of the Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative and will specifically focus on encouraging families to get their children tested for lead poisoning, homes tested for lead and to utilize the 211 hotline or website for more information. Federal funding provided through the Department of Housing and Urban Development is still available for lead abatement through the City of Syracuse's Lead Program. This grant allows eligible property owners and landlords to apply for funding and assistance with fixing lead-based paint hazards.
View the website for more information. View the online application. On February 5, the Central New York Community Foundation hosted the LeadSafeCNY Community Forum at the Northside Learning Center. The audience of 80 community members, public officials and local residents heard from a panel featuring Dr. Sandy Lane, Dr. Travis Hobart, Dr. Frank Ridzi, and Peter Dunn.
Together the panelists highlighted the ways in which lead poisoning can easily go undetected, undermining all community efforts to educate our children and mentor them into successful careers. Dr. Lane explained that the body absorbs lead similarly to how it absorbs calcium and iron, which can stay in the body for long periods of time. Dr. Hobart clarified that when consumed, lead enters your bloodstream and eventually your bone marrow. This can result in behavioral, emotional, and other neurological effects that can have an impact on children’s educational development and decision making. As pointed out by Frank Ridzi, New York State rated among the highest in number of childhood elevated blood lead levels in 2016. He explained that the passage of a lead ordinance, currently being proposed by the Syracuse Common Council, could serve as the ‘missing link’ in a network of solutions put forth over the past few years to decrease childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. The message was clear that knowledge is power and that as a community we must work together to end childhood lead poisoning by keeping residents informed. Attendees were encouraged to learn more about the proposed lead ordinance and voice their opinions to legislators during the open comment period, set to run through March 5. Learn more about the ordinance here. View the PowerPoint Presentation from the February 5 Forum here. January 28, 2020 - The Central New York Community Foundation announced today that it endorses proposed legislation put forth by the Syracuse Common Council to make the presence of lead a housing code violation during interior housing inspections. This is the first local policy endorsement of its kind from the region’s largest charitable foundation.
"The Community Foundation has been an amazing partner, collaborating with both the city and county to address the lead crisis,” said Joe Driscoll, District 5 Syracuse Common Councilor. “Its advocacy around this legislation is crucial in raising awareness and support around this issue." The proposed legislation, based on the release of a third-party Draft Generic Environmental Impact Study, is designed to build upon the July 2018 amendment to city regulation that instituted internal inspections on one- and two-unit rental properties. Up until this point, landlords could only be cited for visible chipping or peeling paint. The ordinance would require mandatory wipes to check for lead contaminated dust. A policy paper recently released by the Community Foundation explains that the proposed ordinance is the ‘missing link’ in a network of solutions put forth over the past few years to decrease childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. In 2018, more than 10 percent of Syracuse children tested were shown to have elevated lead levels, according to the Onondaga County Health Department. “Our community is not standing still, but rather making progressive, systematic change in addressing lead poisoning in our children,” said Peter Dunn, Community Foundation president & CEO. “The passage of this lead ordinance would close the loop on a new infrastructure of vigilance that will identify the problem of lead exposure instead of waiting to address the negative outcomes.” A one-month public commenting period for the proposed ordinance opens on February 5. Dunn says the Community Foundation’s endorsement is intended to spur discussion and encourage residents to make their voices heard by lawmakers before the Council’s vote in April. “As a community, lead poisoning is affecting our children first and foremost,” said Dunn. “We hope that residents living inside and outside of the city provide input in support of this ordinance. Our children’s future depends on it.” Community members will be invited to give their input online or via email. In addition, an in-person public forum is scheduled for 5:30 pm on February 12 in Common Council Chambers at City Hall. “Thanks to a strong coalition of public and private partners, led by Fifth District Councilor Joe Driscoll, and buoyed by the significant financial support and partnership of the CNY Community Foundation, the City of Syracuse is poised to adopt a new lead ordinance that will protect our most at-risk children,” said Mayor Ben Walsh. “Together, we will wipe out the threat of lead to our children once and for all.” The Community Foundation’s endorsement follows a 4-year, $2 million commitment announced by the organization in late 2018 to help end childhood lead poisoning in the city. Since then, more than $780,000 has been awarded to nonprofit organizations through its LeadSafeCNY initiative. In an Action Statement published on its website, the Community Foundation states that it is taking action now because “lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” yet it currently hinders children’s ability to enter the classroom ready to learn. View the Community Foundation’s policy paper: “A Steady March Forward: The Critical Next Step to Address Lead Poisoning in Syracuse” ## The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that collects contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of more than $280 million and has invested more than $200 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time. The topic of lead poisoning has recently burst back into the scene in Central New York due to high-profile publicity and community action; however, it has been an ongoing issue in this region, and across New York State, for decades. Recently, we have seen a steady march forward toward progress, both in terms of increased resources devoted to the issue and new collaboration among local policy makers, residents and organizations. Syracuse has taken bold steps, but more are needed. The following policy paper outlines the Central New York Community Foundation’s review of what has been accomplished so far and what still needs to be done to close a critical gap in legislation. Based on our analysis, we conclude that the most important next step is to advocate for the passage of a new lead ordinance, soon to be put forth by the City of Syracuse, which would make the presence of lead a housing code violation. View the paper: 
Renting a home can be demanding time for families. As they relocate from former living spaces they are faced with sorting out financials, signing leases, and moving their belongings, among countless others tasks. But something commonly missing from the list is leaving these families at risk – the ability to identify lead in the new residence.
Ed Perry, a local business owner and landlord, noticed that many rental properties in Syracuse contained some form of lead paint. When he purchased his first property on Cherry Street in 2017 he was prepared to take the necessary steps to re-mediate any lead paint with the intent of renting out the property. “Lead is something that can take people’s lives,” said Perry. “When I decided I wanted to become a landlord the biggest thing for me was ensuring my tenants’ safety.” Pinpointing where lead paint is located within a home can be challenging. In most homes built before 1978, lead paint was used on more than just the walls. It has been found on unexpected areas like bathtubs, sinks, porches, decks, and even the exterior of homes. If remediation is not done properly, people that come in contact with the area can be at high risk of ingesting toxic lead particles. Wanting to ensure his safety and that of others, Perry turned to Home Headquarters for help. The organization provides training to individuals that are seeking to become certified or re-certified to remove lead from properties safely and effectively. The 8-hour Renovation Repair and Paint (RRP) training course teaches: (1) why this is important, (2) Federal and State regulations, and (3) the safe procedures to removing, cleaning, and disposing of lead. “There are a lot of people who just don’t know how to properly address lead,” said Katie Bronson, director of community housing initiatives at Home HeadQuarters. “The training gives them authorization to do it and the knowledge on how to do it correctly.” In 2019, the Central New York Community Foundation provided Home HeadQuarters with $20,000 grant through its LeadSafeCNY initiative to support its landlord and contractor training program. Perry jumped at the opportunity to enhance his building’s safety and applied for the program in 2018. With his newly attained certification in hand, he was able to identify the exposed lead particles in his property alongside an inspector. Before, he began removing all the lead from the property. “Whenever we found lead we needed to pull up the material, clean the surface underneath and put up barriers to prevent the spread of dust,” explained Perry. “The training provided me with the knowledge to make these renovations and ultimately saved me time and money. Now I feel confident in starting to open up the apartments to new tenants.” It took many tedious days and considerable effort but it finally paid off. Perry’s property now houses two apartments on the second floor and his barbershop on the first floor. The training wasn’t the only perk for Perry. The Syracuse Land Bank offered a deal to Perry. If he would get certified, he would receive a grant that would cover 50 percent of his $20,000 loan with the bank. Not only did he become knowledgeable and certified on identifying and removing lead, but he also was able to save approximately $10,000 on his loan. Perry recognized the impact that the training has had on him and his businesses. He hopes that by taking a stand to provide lead-safe properties, he will inspire other to do the same. “I was surprised when I took the class, that in addition to myself and other local property owners, there were also individuals representing various businesses,” said Perry. “It felt good to be surrounded by people like myself who want to save money while also helping others within our community.” First Grants Showing Noticeable Outcomes, One Year InOctober 17, 2019 – The Central New York Community Foundation has awarded its second round of LeadSafeCNY grants, totaling $342,500, to help address childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. In its first year, the initiative resulted in the installation of lead-free windows and doors in 27 Syracuse housing units; 60 income-eligible residents moved into new, affordable, lead-free apartments built on the Northside; and 36 EPA lead certification certificates earned by area landlords and contractors. The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million over four* years, to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, more than 10 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2018 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. That rate has improved by nearly one percent from 2017. This year’s grants are supporting existing home renovations, community outreach, training and public policy and systems change. The grants include:
The Community Foundation’s efforts are primarily focused on Syracuse census tracts that were found in 2018 to have the highest blood lead levels in children. Among them is Census Tract 54, where a striking 46 percent of residents live below the poverty line. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, nearly 27 percent of that neighborhood’s children were found to have elevated lead levels in 2018. Surrounding communities show similar data with rates ranging from 20 to 22 percent. LeadSafeCNY’s first grant recipients are reporting some promising outcomes one year in. In its first round of grants in 2018, Home HeadQuarters received $150,000 to pilot a window and doors replacement program and another $20,000 to train landlords and contractors to be EPA-certified for lead remediation. Since then, windows and doors have been replaced in 21 rental housing units so far, and there is a waitlist of neighbors hopeful to receive replacements next, thanks to this year’s additional funding toward the project. Home HeadQuarters has also experienced overwhelming response to its EPA-certification program. Since the program was implemented last fall, more than 39 training opportunities and 36 certifications have been obtained by landlords and contractors of homes in Syracuse with lead paint. “This year’s much-needed expansion of grant funding will allow us to address our current waitlist for EPA certification training for landlords and contractors,” said Katie Bronson, director of community housing initiatives at Home HeadQuarters. “It also extends our windows and doors program for landlords in the 13205 zip code, which is one of the hottest areas for elevated lead blood levels in the city.” Housing Visions received a $150,000 LeadSafeCNY grant last year toward the construction of Butternut Crossing, a new 53-unit affordable apartment complex on Syracuse’s Northside that is 75 percent through completion. So far, more than 60 income-eligible residents are now living in lead-free homes. Ben Lockwood, Housing Visions president and CEO, says the new apartments are typically rented out within one day. He’s found that families are often surprised that they have the opportunity to live in a high-quality apartment. “The buildings we demolished to construct this complex were not only full of lead, they were all beyond their useful life due to neglect,” said Lockwood. “We feel we are adding fabric to the neighborhood. We can choose to pay now for safe housing or pay later as a society when we’ve poisoned our children.” In an Action Statement published on its website, the Community Foundation states that it is taking action now because “lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” yet it currently hinders children’s ability to enter the classroom ready to learn. Elevated blood lead levels in young children have been found to cause reduced brain function, impacting the skills needed for academic success, physical activity and social interaction. This can lead to a higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis, absenteeism, criminal behavior, violence and suicide. Lead is a toxin that affects the brain, nervous system and multiple organs in the human body. Children under the age of six and pregnant women living in homes that have chipping, flaking and peeling paint are most susceptible. A common source of ingestion is the inhalation of dust particles in the air from the friction of painted surfaces when windows, doors and cabinets are opened and closed. Syracuse’s aging housing stock is much to blame for the high rates of elevated lead levels in resident children. More than 90 percent of the city’s occupied units were built before lead paint was federally banned from use in 1978. Those interested in learning more about the grants or viewing local lead data can visit leadsafecny.org. ### About the Central New York Community Foundation The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that collects contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of more than $280 million and has invested more than $200 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time. * Our initial four-year commitment was extended to five-years following construction, renovation, and training delays due to COVID-19.   The Syracuse community has been fighting to put an end to childhood lead poisoning but there is much ground to cover. Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today (TNT) is stepping in to help by raising awareness among community members about the opportunities families have to protect themselves from this danger. “Parents feel very badly that their kids are harmed; they feel responsible when their child is exposed to lead. But it isn’t just their responsibility,” said Jaime Howley, co-chair of the Neighborhood and Housing Taskforce at TNT. “It is the responsibility of the community and our society as a whole. We should work together to give them the facts and the support they need, simply because we love our children and want the damage to stop.” The strategy for TNT has been to get out into the neighborhoods, talk to residents face-to-face, and provide them with useful information on how to test for lead and find resources needed to remediate it from their homes. Without this outreach, many community members may have no knowledge of the lead paint risk that still exists. “Despite the fact that Syracuse’s lead paint problem has been around for a long time, people’s reactions are ‘I thought that wasn’t a problem anymore,’” said Howley. “As a community, we stopped talking about it at some point, but the problem never went away.” Howley emphasized that the concern and risk is greatest for those living in homes built before lead paint was banned in 1978, especially in poorly maintained rental properties found in neighborhoods of high poverty. This, Howley points out, leaves residents extremely susceptible to lead exposure. View a map of lead poisoning rates in high-poverty neighborhoods of Syracuse. “Lead disproportionately damages the most vulnerable children in our city,” said Howley. “The neighborhoods that we target, and that are most at risk, are home to New Americans and other groups who are dealing with a number of other challenges.” TNT’s main message to residents is that lead poisoning most commonly occurs from peeling, flaking or chipping paint on windows, doors, porches and floors. The invisible dust that results from friction of these surfaces is the most dangerous. As an immediate stop-gap measure, they recommend that residents remove lead debris with disposable wet wipes. As part of their outreach efforts, TNT has canvased neighborhoods with bags full of informative handouts and free wet wipes, attended community events to distribute resources, collaborated with other organizations and held the Get the Lead Out of the Block Party in Southside Syracuse. The Central New York Community Foundation helped launch these outreach efforts with a $30,000 grant through its LeadSafeCNY initiative, a multi-year commitment to help decrease the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates. “The only way out of this is to work together,” Howley added. “Community support and collaboration are so important, and that is why I am very happy that the Community Foundation supports this mission and our message to reach out to these parents.” This fall, TNT will be participating in a series of Town Hall events hosted by the Onondaga County Health Department to provide community members information regarding lead poisoning prevention. Registration is available online. They will also be attending a Legislative Lobby Day hosted by the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University to speak with New York State legislators on behalf of residents affected by lead poisoning. TNT’s goals are to increase the number of children and homes tested, decrease the number of children with elevated blood lead levels and empower individuals to advocate for lead safe homes. These goals, Howley believes, will require dedication from TNT volunteers, but also from every resident in the area. |
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