Information about Applying for Assistance from the Program

Introduction

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) is a non-profit agency established in 1987 to promote the availability of affordable housing and the conservation of land in the State of Vermont. VHCB has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to control lead paint hazards in Vermont housing. The VHCB Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program will provide funding and technical assistance to homeowners and rental property owners to control lead paint hazards.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Program, a home or apartment must have been built before 1978, have at least two (2) bedrooms, 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. The following eligibility requirements also apply:

Owner-Occupied Properties:
1) Must be owner's primary residence
2) Value cannot exceed 95% of median for county
3) Owner's income cannot exceed 80% of median

Rental Properties
1) Tenant's income cannot exceed 80% of medianty
2) Owner must rent to income-eligible family for 3 years

Available Assistance

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.

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.

Blood Lead Testing of Children Under Six (6)

The Vermont Department of Health offers free blood lead screening (fingerstick method) for all children under the age of six. Contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 1-800-439-8550 for a schedule of upcoming lead clinics throughout the State. Families occupying units to have lead hazards controlled will be strongly encouraged to have young children tested, if they have not done so already.

Temporary Relocation

Homeowners will be expected to make their own arrangements for relocation while the lead work is completed. Tenants in rental property cannot be permanently displaced because of the lead work under the Uniform Relocation Act. 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.

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 (802) 828-5064.