City: $4.5 million HUD grant aims to address lead paint in roughly 149 Greensboro homes

Josh Mullins, lead safe housing program manager, described the city's lead-remediation work on FYI Weekly and said new HUD funding will extend that effort.

Mullins said lead-based paint remains the main source of childhood lead poisoning in homes built before 1978 because chipping paint and friction at doors and windows create dust that children can ingest. He described inspection options using handheld X-ray fluorescence scanners and said remediation can mean safe removal or enclosure by contractors trained in lead-safe work.

Regarding funding, Mullins said, "the total grant was right around $4.5 million" and that the grant, awarded last year, is expected to allow the city to address about 149 homes. He said this is the seventh related grant the city has received and that, over the last 15–20 years, the program has funded lead hazard work in about 1,000 housing units, including single-family and multifamily units.

Mullins said remediation costs vary by the age and condition of the home: smaller jobs can run a few thousand dollars, while larger removals cost more. He advised residents of pre-1978 homes to have inspections done and said the city's Housing and Neighborhood Development web page has program details. The program can be contacted via email at leadsafegso@greensboro-nc.gov or by phone at 336-373-2383.

Mullins framed the work as family-centered: drawing on experience as a teacher and school leader, he said removing lead hazards helps families keep homes healthy and supports children’s well-being. FYI Weekly did not provide a schedule for application deadlines or the full allocation methodology for the HUD grant.