Does your home have lead paint? Akron and Summit County have programs to help you remove it

Summit County Public Health plans to make 120 homes in Summit County lead safe by the end of January 2029. And the Lead Safe Akron Program will provide up to $20,000 in grant funding, depending on the property, to remediate lead paint hazards in Akron homes. 

In Summit County, eligible homeowners, rental tenants and landlords can apply to receive lead removal services secured by five-year forgivable loans — landlords are responsible for paying a 20% match. 

In Akron, both owner-occupied households and rental structures of one to four units are eligible for the lead safe program. Priority will be given to households with children under 6 years old who have elevated blood lead levels (lead blood testing is a requirement for owner-occupied home applications). 

Signal Akron has put together a guide for both programs to help you see if you qualify.

Summit County Public Health’s Lead Hazard Reduction Grant

SCPH’s Lead Hazard Reduction Grant, in partnership with the county’s Department of Community and Economic Development and funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, has secured renewed funding for the next four years, said SCPH Environmental Health Supervisor Nate King.

Around 99,000 homes in Summit County may have lead paint hazards, according to SCPH. Lead-based paint was banned in the United States in 1978. Previously, it was used to paint both the interior and exterior of houses. 

How can I tell if my home has lead paint? 

The simplest and safest approach is to assume your home contains lead-based paint if it was built before 1978, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Signs of lead paint include chipping or peeling paint on walls, windowsills and furniture. Harmful lead dust is created when surfaces wear away over time. 

Lead-based paint on the exterior of a house can also leave lead chips, dust or flakes in the soil around the house, and that dust can be tracked in on shoes.

The most definitive way to know if your home has lead paint is to test for it. While home lead test kits are available, caution should be exercised because results are often inconsistent. 

For help finding a certified lead inspector, you can call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-5323. If you enroll in a lead abatement program, the testing will be done by the program’s contractors. 

Summit County’s lead-free program 

Who is eligible? 

SCPH’s program is open to homeowners and renters as well as owners of vacant rental homes. 

One of the major requirements is that a child under the age of 6 must live in the home or visit the home regularly, at least six hours per week.

“The main goal of this program is to reduce childhood lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is much more of a significant issue for children under the age of 6,” King said. 

Lead exposure in children can lead to brain damage, nervous system damage, long-term developmental delays, hearing loss, speech problems and behavioral issues. The danger for adults is much less significant, King said. 

“The really hard part, you know, with lead poisoning is that children don’t look sick or act sick when they are lead poisoned or have elevated blood lead levels,” King said.

Some of the ways children can get lead poisoning include: 

• Eating or touching peeling paint chips and flakes that contain lead.
• Putting their hands, toys and other items covered with lead dust in their mouths.
• Breathing in lead dust.
• Chewing on windowsills, furniture, door frames and other items covered with lead-based paint.

Children can be tested for lead poisoning by their healthcare provider. 

There are a few additional eligibility requirements for residents with potential lead hazards in their homes. 

Homeowners may apply if the additional criteria are met:  

• The home was built before 1978. 
• The home meets local ordinances and housing codes.
• Property taxes are not delinquent.
• The homeowners’ income is less than 80% of the area median income ($72,250 for a household with three people).

Landlords and their tenants may apply if the following additional criteria are met:

• The home was built before 1978.
• The home meets local ordinances and housing codes.
• The home is free of clutter, insects, rodents and unsanitary conditions.
• The tenant’s income is less than 80% of the area median income ($72,250 for a household with three people).

Vacant rental property owners may apply if these additional criteria are met:

• The home was built before 1978.
• Property tax payments are not delinquent.
• The home meets local ordinances and housing codes.
• The home is registered as a rental with the Summit County Fiscal Office and with the city where the home is located, in the rental owner’s name.
• The home is free of clutter, insects, rodents and unsanitary conditions.

Applications can be emailed, mailed or dropped off in person. More information can be found here. 

What happens if my home is selected for the program? 

If your home is selected, SCPH will conduct a lead inspection and risk assessment to determine the scope of the work. A team will use an X-ray fluorescence device to test every painted surface in the home. They will also evaluate levels of lead dust on horizontal surfaces by taking dust wipe samples.

Once the testing is completed and the presence of lead has been confirmed, dates will be scheduled for the work to be completed. Typically, the work will take no longer than 10 days, during which the occupants can choose to stay with friends or family or be relocated to a hotel, paid for by SCPH. 

SCPH staff will regularly meet with the contractors as the work is completed to ensure it meets state and federal regulations. Once the lead hazards have been removed, SCPH will do clearance testing, which includes taking additional dust wipe samples. 

What is the cost? 

There is no up-front cost to Summit County homeowners. The work is secured with a five-year, zero-interest forgivable loan for a portion of the cost. As long as the homeowner does not sell the home within the five years, the loan will be completely forgiven and there will be no cost to the homeowner. 

If a homeowner decides to sell the home during the loan period, they will be responsible for paying the loan back at a prorated amount. 

For rental properties (vacant or occupied), landlords are required to pay a 20% match upfront once the cost of the job is determined. Of the remaining amount, 50% of the cost will be secured with a five-year, deferred, forgivable loan, and 50% will be a grant to the owner. If the home is sold, transferred or no longer the owner’s primary residence during the loan term, the loan will become due. 

Lead Safe Akron Program

The Lead Safe Akron Program provides up to $20,000 in grant funding to remediate lead paint hazards in Akron homes. 

Both owner-occupied households and rental structures of one to four units are eligible for Akron’s program. Priority will be given to households with children under 6 years old who have elevated blood lead levels (lead blood testing is a requirement for owner-occupied home applications). 

Homeowners are eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 for lead hazard reduction. Additional assistance may also be available. 

Homeowners may apply if the following criteria are met:  

• Their income is less than 80% of the area median income ($72,250 for a household of three people).
• A child under 6 years old resides in or frequently visits the home. 
• They are up to date on their mortgage(s). 
• They are up to date on their property taxes.
• They live in a home built before 1978.
• They live within Akron city limits.
• The property is not condemned and does not have excessive housing orders against it. 

Rental tenants may apply if the following criteria are met:  

• Their income is less than 80% of the area median income ($72,250 for a household of three people).
• They live in a home built before 1978.
• The property is not condemned and does not have excessive housing orders against it. 

Rental tenants may have a qualifying child under 6 years old, but it is not required.

For tenant applications, landlords may receive 75% matching funds for the first $10,000 of lead grant funds used for each rental unit. Landlords are responsible for 25% of the cost.

Rental structures of one to four units without children are also eligible under this program, but rental owners must agree to a 3-year commitment to market the units to families with young children. 

Landlords may receive 75% matching funds for the first $20,000 of lead grant funds used for each rental unit. They will be responsible for 25% of the cost.

Landlords may apply if the additional criteria are met:

• The tenant’s income is less than 80% of the area median income ($72,250 for a household of three people).

• They are up to date on their mortgage(s). 
• They are up to date on their property taxes.
• They are up to date on their income taxes.
• They live within Akron city limits.
• The property is not condemned and does not have excessive housing orders against it. 

What happens if my home is selected for the program?

Once your eligibility is confirmed — this will take seven to 10 business days — a housing rehabilitation specialist will inspect your home and a radon inspector will conduct radon testing.  

A list of necessary repairs will be made, and the work will be bid to state-licensed, city-approved contractors. 

You will be required to relocate while the work is underway. Relocating with friends or family is encouraged, but the program provides housing if needed. 

Unlike the SCPH program, the Akron program is grant-based, so no loan agreements will be required.