WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping push to protect families from one of the nation’s most dangerous hidden health threats, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday announced more than $4.4 million in new federal grants aimed at helping communities eradicate lead-based paint hazards from homes across the country.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner unveiled the Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building grants on Friday, January 9, 2026, calling the funding a critical investment in safer, healthier housing for working families — particularly children, who are most vulnerable to lead poisoning.
“At HUD, we are focused on expanding affordable housing for hardworking Americans that is safe and free from hazards,” Turner said. “Helping communities remove lead-based paint hazards will support Americans in developing or restoring their capacity to improve homes and protect families, especially for young children who are particularly susceptible.”
The announcement was made during a Partnership for Petersburg initiative event in Petersburg, Virginia, alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin, First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, senior officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham. The city has long been a focal point of Virginia’s public health challenges, with roughly one in five homes estimated to contain significant lead-based paint hazards — a legacy of aging housing stock and decades of disinvestment.
Youngkin launched the Partnership for Petersburg initiative in 2022 to drive comprehensive improvements in the city, which has repeatedly ranked as the least healthy place to live in Virginia.
Federal health officials warn that lead exposure can cause irreversible harm, especially in children, where it can permanently damage brain development and the central nervous system. Pregnant women exposed to lead also face heightened risks of reduced fetal growth and preterm birth.
HUD said the new grants are designed to help local governments and housing agencies build the technical and administrative capacity needed to identify, control, and eliminate lead hazards in privately owned rental properties and owner-occupied homes.
Communities can apply for the funding through grants.gov, and HUD will provide technical assistance to help applicants submit competitive proposals. The department will also host a webinar to guide jurisdictions through the application process.
Local governments seeking more information can contact HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes at OLHCHH.NOFA@HUD.gov or call 202-402-3167 (TTY 711).
HUD officials said the new funding reflects the Trump administration’s broader push to pair housing affordability with safety, ensuring that families are not forced to choose between a roof over their heads and the health of their children.
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