::: Lead-Based Paint Application and Policies:::

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Application and Resident Income Verification Form (.pdf)
Information for Tenants and Tenant Income Verification Form (.pdf)
Information on Grant and Loan Documents and Construction Contracts (.pdf)
VHCB Lead Paint Program Policies & Priorities (.pdf)

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

In order to be considered, an application must contain all of the requested information, including a Resident Income Verification Form for each dwelling unit. If the exact 'Year of Building Construction' is unknown, please estimate to the best of your knowledge. Property located in a flood hazard area must be properly insured in order to be eligible. Pictures of exterior street-side elevations are required in order to determine if properties are historic, which may affect the lead control strategy. Please use one of the two checklists provided below to insure that your application is complete.

Application Checklist for Owner-Occupied Properties:
Fully completed and signed Application
Fully completed and signed Resident Income Verification Form
Photographs of each exterior street-side elevation of the property
A copy of the most recent Tax Assessment

Application Checklist for Rental Properties:
Fully completed and signed Application
Fully completed and signed Resident Income Verification Forms for each dwelling unit
Photographs of each exterior street-side elevation of the property

Send all information to:
VHCB Lead Program
149 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602

If you have questions, please contact the Lead Program at (800) 290-0527.

INFORMATION ABOUT APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROGRAM

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Program, a home or apartment must have been built before 1978, have at least one (1) bedroom, and not be intended primarily for occupancy by the elderly. Highest priority will be given to units occupied by lead poisoned children, then to other units occupied by children under age six and other family sized units.

The following eligibility requirements also apply:

Owner-Occupied Properties:
1) Must be owner's primary residence
2) Owner's income cannot exceed 80% of the area median, as determined by HUD.
3) If located in a Flood Hazard Area, property must have flood insurance
4) Properties must generally be in good repair and have no serious structural problems

Rental Properties
1) Tenant's income cannot exceed 80% of the area median, as determined by HUD.
2) Owner must rent to income-eligible family for 3 years after completion of the work
3) If located in a Flood Hazard Area, property must have flood insurance
4) Properties must generally be in good repair and have no serious structural problems

To determine if a property is in a Flood Hazard Area, contact your Town Clerk, or visit the FEMA flood map store online.

Work on historic or potentially historic properties is reviewed and approved by a preservation consultant to insure the historic character is not lost.

Available Services

The Program will provide technical assistance, at no cost, to the property owner in the form of comprehensive lead paint testing, risk assessment, specification development, bidding and contractor selection assistance, construction management, clearance testing, and follow-up inspections. Funds available to pay for the actual work are in the form of grants and 0% interest deferred loans. Under certain circumstances, loans may be forgiven.

The following services are available at no cost to the owners of eligible properties participating in the Program:

Testing of all painted surfaces
Risk assessment / identification of hazards
Development of specifications for the work
Assistance with bidding, contractor selection, and project management
Dust sampling and laboratory analysis
Lead safety training for residents
Blood tests for resident children under age 6

Awards
Awards are a combination of grants and 0% interest, deferred loans payable upon sale of the property. Under certain circumstances, up to 50% of the deferred loan can be forgiven. Award amounts are determined by competitively bid prices returned by certified lead abatement contractors.

Homes or apartments are eligible for awards to pay for required work as follows:

Rental Property - $3,000 grant and up to $7,000 deferred loan per unit

Home Owners - $6,000 grant and up to $14,000 in deferred loan. Depending on the cost of the project and the availability of funds, owners may be required to complete some finish work such as final painting.

Lead Paint Hazard Control

Lead paint hazard control work with funds from this Program must be completed by a Vermont-certified Lead Abatement Contractor. Occupants of units undergoing lead hazard control must be relocated during the work and cannot return until the unit passes clearance dust wipe testing (see "Temporary Relocation" section below). Depending on the size of the home or apartment and the extent of the lead problem, the work can take anywhere from one to three weeks to complete. Property owners will receive documentation that the lead paint hazards have been controlled and guidance regarding ongoing maintenance.

Strategies/Treatments
The amount of work required to make a property safe varies depending on the location and condition of the lead-based paint. The Vermont Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program typically provides assistance to properties requiring substantial lead hazard control work. Treatments often include window replacement, removing paint from friction or impact surfaces such as door jambs or painted floors, stabilization of all deteriorated paint on trim or other components, and a specialized cleaning of all surfaces. All properties are considered “lead-safe” after receiving assistance from this Program. Lead-safe means all of the potential lead hazards have been addressed, not necessarily that all lead paint has been removed.

Temporary Relocation
Homeowners will be expected to make their own arrangements for relocation while the lead work is completed. Under the Uniform Relocation Act, tenants in rental property cannot be permanently displaced because of the lead work. Generally, owners of rental property will be asked to assist VHCB in making arrangements for their tenants. In certain situations, VHCB has limited resources available to assist with reasonable relocation expenses. Occupants will be expected to pack up their belongings sufficiently to allow the contractor access to complete the work. More specific packing information will be provided to program participants.

Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance
Because it is usually too expensive to remove all of the lead-based paint, ongoing maintenance and monitoring by the property owner will be necessary to ensure that all of the lead-based paint hazards remain under control. Vermont Act 165 requires owners of pre-1978 rental housing and/or day care facilities, or their maintenance personnel, to attend a Vermont Department of Health-approved training, to perform Essential Maintenance Practices (EMPs), and to provide information about lead-based paint to tenants. Compliance with Act 165 should ensure that no lead hazards reappear in the future. For more information about the law, call 1-800-439-8550.

Learn more about the Vermont Lead-Based Paint Hazard Abatement Program:

Program Services | Lead-Safe Renovations | Lead Poisoning | EMP Training | Links

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