In October 2000, HPD was awarded its third Lead Grant under Round VIII of HUD's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program. HPD, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Neighborhood Housing Services of NYC (NHS), will serve residents of the eight neighborhoods that have the highest incidence of lead poisoning in New York City. The grant award of $3 million in Federal funding will be matched with $1.69 million of City contributions. The total grant will facilitate the lead hazard reduction in 397 units through forgivable loans to the property owners.

The term of the extended HUD grant is March 1, 2001 to November 1, 2004. The target neighborhoods in Round VIII will be:

• Jamaica, Queens
• East New York, Brooklyn
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• Bedford-Stuyvesant/Crown Heights, Brooklyn
• East Flatbush/Flatbush, Brooklyn
• Williamsburg/Bushwick, Brooklyn
• Washington Heights/Inwood, Manhattan
• Fordham/Bronx Park, Bronx

Round VIII will address lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned buildings within the above listed target neighborhoods. Some of the various criteria used in building selection are:

• Elevated blood level history;
• Participation in HPD's Third Party Transfer Program ;
• Participation in DOHMH's Child Health or Healthy Homes Initiative; and,
• Owner compliance with existing housing code violations.

In October 2003, HPD and DOHMH were awarded two new lead grants by HUD. The Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant is a $2.6 million grant and will target the neighborhoods of West Queens, Queens, and East Flatbush/Flatbush, East New York, Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Williamsburg and Bushwick, Brooklyn. In conjunction with the DOHMH and three community-based organizations, grant funds will support the treatment of 300 units during its three and one-half year term, from October 1, 2003 until March 31, 2007. A second grant in the amount of $500,000 under the Lead Education Outreach Program will focus on the targeted areas of Astoria, Queens, and East Flatbush/Flatbush, Brooklyn. Supported by two community-based organizations and HPD's Education Program, the grant will outreach to owners and tenants, offer certificates of training in environmental health and work safe practices, and enroll 175 units for treatment under in-kind matching contributions.