Although the National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 20-26, which is an annual national public health education campaign that brings lead poisoning prevention into focus is coming to an end, the local Illinois healthy homes coalition efforts to address lead (based paint) hazards in pre-1978 homes/apartments continues. The Illinois Quad Cities Healthy Homes Coalition (IQCHHC) will have extended office hours to answer questions and process applications for the Lead (Based Paint) Hazard Reduction Program. Applications for owner occupied, rental and vacant units located in Moline, Rock Island, Silvis and East Moline, IL may be submitted at the following locations:
Saturday, November 16, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
630 9th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
Sunday, November 17, 2019
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
City of Moline – City Hall
619 16th Street
Moline, IL 61265
The IQCHHC understands not everyone is able to either inquire or submit a program application during the typical business day/hours. There is no cost to the applicant for any lead service work performed at their homes/apartments. The City of Moline is working collaboratively with the Rock Island County Health Department, Project Now, the City of Rock Island, the City of East Moline and the City of Silvis (Illinois Quad Cities Healthy Homes Coalition) to remediate health hazards in 151 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 32 units and work alongside medical and social service providers. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the IQCHHC a $2.4 million grant last December to address lead hazards and provide safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. This investment will protect families and children by targeting health hazards in more than 151 low-income homes with significant lead and health hazards for which other resources are not available to address these needs.
“Children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning,” said Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri. “It is the priority of our entire region to protect our youngest residents. We are grateful for the strong partnership that we have with our neighboring communities and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as we all work to safeguard our children and our future, from the devastating impacts of lead poisoning.”
"It is very important for us as a City to be proactive and seek to provide adequate resources for our residents to combat lead-based paint hazards in their homes. By partnering with the cities of Moline, East Moline and Silvis, we have a stronger force in place to reduce the number of lead poisoned children within our communities,” said Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms.
“The City of East Moline is proud to be part of the Quad Cities helping to bring awareness in the prevention of lead poisoning to individuals, organizations and industry along with state and local governments. In doing so, we jointly can help reduce childhood exposure through education!” said East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman.