North Bergen has only N.J. housing authority to get $1M HUD grant to eliminate lead hazards

North Bergen has the only housing authority in New Jersey to receive a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to eliminate lead-based paint hazards. 

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“We have no more important mission than protecting children from the potentially dangerous lead,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a statement.

“Today we’re investing in safer, healthier public housing and in the futures of the children living there.”

The aforementioned funding is offered through HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Capital Fund Program and are used to ensure public housing developments that were tested and abated over twenty years ago remain lead-free.

Additionally, the funding helps meet the backlog of capital needs for public housing. While lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, many older homes may still contain hazards that require proper cleanup.

“Now, more than any other region, New York and New Jersey are acutely aware of the detrimental health impact from lead hazards in public housing,” added HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey Lynne Patton.

“HUD will always be vigilant, hold landlords accountable, and continue to provide assistance and funding to ensure families are in a safe and lead-free environment.”

Specially, the funding received by 20 different housing authorities across the country are designated “for the activities of lead-based paint risk assessments, inspections, abatement, interim controls, and clearance examinations.”

NBHA Executive Director Gerald Sanzari expressed gratitude for being one of the few authorities selected to receive the HUD grant.

“There is nothing more important to the North Bergen Housing Authority than keeping our residents safe and healthy and ridding properties of any and all lead-based hazards always has and always will be one of our top priorities,” he said

“We recognize that there are a limited number of HUD grants available throughout the nation, making our being selected as one of only 20 recipients a true honor to our commitment. We are very grateful to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for this recognition and promise to do our part and continue the work we’ve done in the past to earn this grant.”

The full list of every housing authority that received funding can be read here.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated with a comment from North Bergen Housing Authority Executive Director Gerald Sanzari.