Lead Free Homes
By John Sharp
KCMO residents who are owner-occupants of homes built before 1978 and have household income less than 80% of area median income may qualify for free home repairs to remove lead hazards such as chipping paint if a pregnant woman lives in the house or a child under six stays in the home at least six hours per week.
Rental homes may also qualify for repairs if they were built before 1978 and their owners contribute 25% of the cost of repairs. There are additional requirements for multifamily rental properties.
Repairs may include encapsulating lead hazards, specialized cleaning, wet scraping lead paint and repainting those areas and window replacement. All work will be done by licensed lead abatement contractors.
Once a homeowner applies for assistance through the City Health Department’s Project Lead Safe KC, a department representative will take pictures at the home and submit the project for approval. Once approved, which may take about three months, a licensed lead inspector will inspect the suspected lead hazards and determine the remediation needed. Scheduling this inspection may take about six months.
Persons may call 816-513-6048 for more information or go to tinyURL.com/LeadSafeKC to access an online application and determine what supporting documentation will be required.
Pregnant women and parents who would like their children tested for lead poisoning may call the number above to schedule an appointment through the department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Tests are administered to women and children at the department at 2400 Troost, Suite 3400, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays.
Lead is highly toxic, and young children are the most vulnerable to lead poisoning which can severely impact children’s mental development and also slow physical growth and development.