Woonsocket lead plan wins top HUD rating

WOONSOCKET – The city’s financial assistance program for lead abatement in older housing has won the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s highest rating of “green.”
The program provides no-interest, partially forgiven, partially deferred loans to owners of pre-1978 houses and rental units to help pay for code-related repairs, such as new windows, doors and siding. Each project begins with a lead inspection, and on completion, the property owner receives a certificate of lead-safe status.
Established in 2003 with a $585,000, three-year HUD grant, and since renamed Healthy Homes, the program has made 58 housing units lead-safe – 10 more than projected. It was recently awarded a $2.8 million grant for lead education and to make more 225 units lead-safe.