Lewiston-Auburn Lead Program Summary 5-10-16

The Lewiston-Auburn Lead Program manages a grant from HUD that

allows us to invest in housing units built before 1978, in order to Identify,
Assess the Risks, and eliminate Lead Based Paint Hazards. (Lead paint can
be present in a housing unit and not be a hazard if it is in good condition and
is not on a wear surface such as a door or window that creates friction on the
paint.) Our Grant will not remove all lead paint from a housing unit in most
situations. It allows us to remove or encapsulate the unsafe lead paint to
eliminate the hazard. HUD also allotted a small portion of the grant to
address Healthy Homes Hazards that are not covered by the Lead Paint
Hazard Reduction funds in order to make housing units safer and more
comfortable. (Healthy Homes Inspections have 29 points of concern and are
described in documents linked to the HUD webpage.) Primarily we work on
multi-family properties. We occasionally do single family properties that
qualify.
A full Lead Inspection report is generated on all of our projects, and is
provided to the property owner. It details all surfaces that tested positive for
lead. At the end of the Lead Program intervention the property owner is also
given an Essential Maintenance Plan which lists the work that was done, as
well as the lead inspection data. It recommends regular inspections to verify
paint conditions for any remaining Lead Paint. If the paint shows wear or
deterioration, it can be repaired or removed using Lead Safe work Practices
and appropriate clean-up as indicated by the RRP training. (Renovation,
Repair, and Painting Guidelines that have been put in place by the Federal
EPA and are locally regulated and enforced by the State of Maine DEP.) **The
L-A Lead Program also funds some initial training for RRP, to educate owners
and contractors about lead-safe work practices.
Our specific grant has a target area designated in Auburn and
Lewiston, which consists of the oldest housing stock. We do have a clause
that allows us to work outside of that area if a housing unit is under an
Abatement Order from the State of Maine CDC Department for the
Prevention of Lead Poisoning in Children. This could be due to an Elevated
Blood Level for Lead test result, or because a significant Lead hazard was
identified that would be poisonous to children under age six.
Our Program allows up to $10,000 Lead Hazard Reduction Grant money
per unit being cleared. It requires a minimum 10% owner match out of
pocket, or it allows for low interest funding through the city CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) if they match a 15% minimum.
Healthy Homes funds are allowed for up to $2,300 per unit, and the scope of
work is determined by the inspection findings. These funds are allowed in

combination with the Lead Grant and do not require a minimum match. Costs
over these allowances are the responsibility of the owner.
In return for funding the owner agrees to screen prospective tenants
and rent units the program cleared to low income tenants for the following 3
years. Maximum rents and maximum tenant incomes are dictated by federal
guidelines. The L-A Program does an annual monitoring and after three years
the grant obligations are completely released. The program does not dictate
how an owner screens their tenants. It asks that they advertise as Lead Safe
units and to give priority to families with children under six, if they otherwise
pass screening.
Some properties have paint hazards due to lack of maintenance by the
current owner. Some have recently been purchased and the new owner is
investing in the property now. One destructive tenant can make a safe unit
hazardous in very little time. (Our Grant also provides tenant outreach and a
minimum level of education about Lead Paint Safety.)
This Grant projected a budget to clear 225 housing units in our three
year term. Currently we are 5 Quarters into the grant with 7 Quarters
to go. We have made it through the initial start-up delays and are ahead of
our grant targets.

We have cleared 33 units to date with more clearing in the next

week.
We have 75 Units more under Contract (Funds and Contractors
committed) for work scheduled going into this summer.
We have a total of 219 units that have successfully applied for
the program. A few of these units may not make it to the Grant
Commitment and Contract Closing depending on the associated costs
for the owner and their funding options.
We are accepting all completed applications and will maintain a
list, prioritizing based on grant guidelines. We anticipate clearing more
than 225 units based on costs so far.
We are anticipating another grant when we renew our request
early next year and will then be able to prioritize anyone who was wait
listed.
MSHA is also applying for a Lead Hazard Control Grant this year
and if accepted, will be covering a large area of Central Maine that
may overlap and assist owners in the Lewiston Auburn area if
the L-A Program does not have funds available.

We are working on a Lead Safe Housing Registry. With our

interventions and working relationships with the property owners we are
creating sustainable Lead Safe Housing and knowledgeable owners that will
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do the right thing to eliminate tenant created hazards and help maintain our
older housing stock.

This is a listing of the properties the Lead Program is currently

working with.
(Some of these were/are under Abatement Orders and many are
not)
Contracted and Cleared (12 Properties) include:
(Representing 33 Lead Safe Housing Units)
96 Elm Street, Lewiston
44 OConnell Street, Lewiston
297 Turner Street, Auburn
158 Spring Street, Lewiston
18 Arch Avenue, Lewiston
87 Sixth Street, Auburn

79 Maple Street, Lewiston

8 Fairmont Avenue, Auburn
22 Newbury Street, Auburn
54 Knox Street, Lewiston
52 Fourth Street, Auburn
143 Madison Street, Auburn

Under Contract and Scheduled for work (15 Properties) include:

(Representing 75 future Lead Safe Housing Units)
333 Pine Street, Lewiston
30 Central Avenue, Lewiston
220 Blake Street, Lewiston
30 Webster Street, Lewiston
75 Walnut St./ 115 Howe Street, Lewiston
166 Pine St./ 66 Shawmut
Street, Lewiston
14 High Street, Auburn
76 Howard Street, Lewiston
102-104 Knox Street, Lewiston
94 Knox Street, Lewiston
55, 57, 59 Summer Street, Auburn
430 Court Street, Auburn
73-75 School Street, Auburn
131-133 Ash Street, Lewiston
9 Myrtle Street, Auburn
Completed Applications (22 properties) in various stages of
inspection, designs, and bidding. We anticipate they will complete the
program. Some may still drop out.
(Representing 111 potential Lead Safe Housing Units)
74 Birch Street, Lewiston
142 College Street, Lewiston
172 Pine Street, Lewiston
243 Main Street, Auburn
67 Maple Street, Lewiston
208 Pine Street, Lewiston
146 Pierce Street, Lewiston
38 Fifth Street, Auburn
135 Oxford Street, Lewiston
337 Garfield Road, Auburn
172 Blake Street, Lewiston

85 Horton Street, Lewiston

4 Cloutier Street, Lewiston
11 Oak Street, Auburn
37 Spruce Street, Lewiston
18 College Street, Lewiston
87 Howe Street, Lewiston
202 Blake Street, Lewiston
2 Laurel Avenue, Auburn
43 Union Street, Lewiston
24 Howard Street, Lewiston
170 Turner Street, Auburn
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**Until the owner and the program close an agreement and sign contracts,
there is no final commitment of funds to complete the project.