Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program | LHC 2600 DC 0013

Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program (HUD) - FAQs

1) What is the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program?

The Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It funds comprehensive local efforts to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible housing, with the practical goal of reducing lead poisoning risks for young children, especially children under age six.

2) What is the main purpose of the grant?

The program is outcomes-driven: it supports work that results in lead hazards being found and corrected in real homes where families live. The goal is to reduce children’s exposure to lead-contaminated paint, dust, and related exposure pathways.

3) Who is the program focused on protecting?

The program has a clear focus on protecting young children under age six from lead poisoning risks.

4) What types of housing can be assisted with LHR funds?

Funds can be used in eligible, privately owned housing, including rental properties and owner-occupied homes, as long as the homes qualify as “target housing” (generally housing built before 1978).

5) What is “target housing” under this opportunity?

In this opportunity, “target housing” is described generally as housing built before 1978.

6) Are rental properties eligible, or is it only for owner-occupied homes?

Both are eligible, as long as the housing is eligible, privately owned, and qualifies as target housing (generally pre-1978). The NOFO supports work in both rental properties and owner-occupied homes.

7) Who is eligible to apply for the LHR grant?

Eligible applicants are limited to governmental entities, including cities, counties/parishes, and other units of local government. Certain states and federally recognized Native American Tribes may also apply, provided they meet specific conditions described in the NOFO.

8) Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Individuals are explicitly ineligible.

9) Are foreign entities eligible to apply?

No. Foreign entities are explicitly ineligible.

10) Are sole proprietorships eligible to apply?

No. Sole proprietorships are explicitly ineligible.

11) What additional eligibility condition applies to states and federally recognized Tribes?

For states and Tribes, eligibility is tied to having an EPA-authorized lead abatement certification program in place by the application deadline.

12) Can multiple eligible entities apply together as a consortium?

Yes. The opportunity allows consortium applications where multiple eligible entities team up.

13) In a consortium application, who is responsible for NOFO compliance?

The consortium must designate one principal (lead) applicant who is accountable for compliance with the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) requirements.

14) Are there any baseline compliance screens or threshold requirements mentioned?

Yes. Each participating entity must satisfy the Resolution of Civil Rights Matters threshold requirement, which is a baseline compliance screen HUD uses in its funding decisions.

15) What if the applying department or agency is not directly under the jurisdiction’s chief executive?

If the applying department or agency is not directly under the jurisdiction’s chief executive (for example, not reporting up to a mayor, county executive, or governor through a direct chain of command), the application must document the legal authority that establishes the department as part of government. This is done by citing the relevant statute and either attaching the language or providing a publicly accessible website link.

16) What are the main funding categories described in the opportunity?

The funding approach depends on the applicant’s situation and category. The NOFO highlights: (1) “Areas with the Highest Lead-Based Paint Abatement Needs,” and (2) an “Other Jurisdictions” approach with different maximum award amounts.

17) What qualifies an applicant for the “Areas with the Highest Lead-Based Paint Abatement Needs” category?

Applicants must be able to document at least 3,500 occupied rental housing units built before 1940, either within a single jurisdiction or collectively through a consortium.

18) How much can be requested under the highest-need category?

Applicants meeting the highest-need threshold may request up to $7,000,000 for lead hazard reduction activities.

19) Can an applicant that qualifies for the highest-need category still apply under “Other Jurisdictions” instead?

Yes. Even jurisdictions that qualify for the highest-need category are allowed to apply under the “Other Jurisdictions” category if they prefer.

20) What is the maximum lead hazard reduction request for first-time grantees under “Other Jurisdictions”?

For first-time grantees, the maximum request is $4,000,000.

21) What is the maximum lead hazard reduction request if a prior lead hazard control grant ended two or more years before the deadline?

If the jurisdiction’s previous lead hazard control grant ended two or more years before the deadline, the maximum request is $4,000,000.

22) What is the maximum lead hazard reduction request if a prior grant ended less than two years before the deadline?

Applicants whose previous grant ended less than two years before the deadline may request up to $5,000,000.

23) What happens if an applicant requests $7,000,000 but does not actually meet the highest-need criteria?

HUD will move the application into the general pool and reduce the request to the applicable cap ($4,000,000 or $5,000,000) if the original request exceeded those limits.

24) What is the Healthy Homes Supplemental funding mentioned in the NOFO?

The NOFO includes Healthy Homes Supplemental funding intended to strengthen the impact of lead hazard control work by addressing other home-based health and safety hazards in the same units being treated for lead.

25) Is the Healthy Homes Supplemental funding separate from lead hazard reduction activities?

It is structured as an add-on to the required lead hazard reduction activities. It is meant to support a more comprehensive approach to occupant health, not just lead paint and lead dust, in the same units receiving lead-related work.

26) How much Healthy Homes Supplemental funding can be requested by first-time grantees (or jurisdictions whose prior grant ended two or more years ago)?

The maximum Healthy Homes Supplemental request is $400,000 for first-time grantees or jurisdictions whose prior grant ended two or more years ago, on top of the main lead award.

27) How much Healthy Homes Supplemental funding can be requested by other applicants?

For other applicants, the maximum Healthy Homes Supplemental request is up to $850,000, on top of the main lead award.

28) What is the application deadline for this opportunity?

The application deadline is August 31, 2026.

29) How many awards does HUD expect to make?

HUD anticipates making about 30 awards.

30) What is the listed award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $7,850,000, which aligns with the top lead funding level plus the possible Healthy Homes Supplemental amount.

31) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this HUD grant?

This is a HUD housing grant under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 14.900.

32) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is LHC-2600-DC-0013.

33) What kind of grant is this (formula vs. discretionary)?

It is described as a discretionary grant.

34) Does the program fund community-scale activities or individual applicants?

Based on the eligibility rules stated (governmental entities only) and the explicit ineligibility of individuals, this program is designed for governmental applicants implementing community-scale lead hazard reduction and related healthy homes interventions.