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  • Housing programs for residents

Hennepin County > Property > Funding assistance for home health and safety hazards

Funding assistance for home health and safety hazards

Eligibility

Homeowners and landlords may be eligible for help to detect and remove lead paint including:

  • A free home test
  • Up to $15,000 for work, including new windows

Fill out the intake form to see if you qualify.

COVID-19 safety guidelines for lead risk assessments

Guidelines are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during home visits. These new guidelines are in accordance with CDC guidelines and protocol regarding safety and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE.) See below for more information.

Free interpreter services on request

Hennepin County offers free interpreter services upon request. Please email healthyhomes@hennepin.us.

  • Spanish: El condado de Hennepin ofrece servicios gratuitos de intérprete al pedido. Para asistencia / healthyhomes@hennepin.us.
  • Hmong: Hennepin County muaj neeg txhais lus pub dawb yog tias xav tau. Yog xav tau kev pab / healthyhomes@hennepin.us.
  • Somali: Degmada Hennepin County waxay bixisaa adeeg turjubaan oo bilaash ah marka la codsado. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay / healthyhomes@hennepin.us.

View the program brochure

  • English: Protect your growing family from lead (PDF)
  • Spanish: Proteja a su creciente familia del plomo (PDF)
  • Hmong: Pov thaiv koj tsev neeg txoj kev loj hlob kom tsis txhob raug tau rau txhuas (lead) (PDF)
  • Somali: Ka ilaali qoyskaaga koraya lead (PDF)

Contact

healthyhomes@hennepin.us

Phone: 612-543-4182

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Program summary

What to expect throughout the process

Free in-home screening

We check your home for health and safety hazards. We also tell you how to prevent home health hazards. If appropriate, you will also get free safety supplies.

Receiving a grant

You complete a grant application. We’ll verify your income and other grant requirements.

Full home inspection

We do a second inspection to identify all the home’s lead hazards.

Inspection results

We meet with you at your home. We discuss the results, the work needed and what the grant can cover.

Lead-safe class

You take a three-hour class. You learn how to paint and do small projects in a lead-safe manner.

Work done by you

You may need to do work the grant doesn’t cover, like paint window trim or home exterior.

Work paid by the grant

A contractor will estimate the cost of all needed repairs. We’ll cover repairs up to $12,000. If the cost goes above that, you may need to cover the rest.

Repair work

The contractor will schedule the work. No one can live at the home during repairs. The grant covers lodging expenses up to $175 per day or $875 per week.

Landlords

You must cover 10% of the cost of repairs. Financing is available.

COVID-19 safety

During your visit

Your health and safety are always our first priority. If you prefer that our teams wear masks, keep a distance of six feet, or take any additional COVID-19 precautions please let us know before our initial visit. 

 

Lead-contaminated household items

In addition to peeling paint in homes built before 1978, common household products may also cause lead exposure.

Potential sources of lead contamination

Common household items

  • Imported spices, including turmeric and chili powder
  • Cosmetics such as sindoor and kumkum
  • Imported candy containing chili powder and tamarind
  • Traditional cookware/pottery that is glazed with lead paint
  • Imported aluminum cookware

Traditional medicines

  • Ba-baw-san, a Chinese herbal remedy
  • Daw Tway, a digestive aid used in Thailand
  • Greta and Azarcon, Hispanic traditional medicine used for upset stomach
  • Ghasard, an Indian folk medicine

If you’re concerned that you or a family member is using a product that may contain lead, Hennepin County may be able to help. At no cost to you, Hennepin County can test products and determine if it contains lead. Testing does not damage your products, and they will be returned to you in the same condition as they were received.

For more information on how to get your products tested email healthyhomes@hennepin.us or call 612-387-8235.

Impacts of lead poisoning

In 2018, more than 200 children tested for lead in Hennepin County had blood lead levels high enough to damage their health.

In young children lead exposure can cause:

  • Brain and nervous system damage
  • Slowed growth and development
  • Learning and behavior problems
  • Hearing and speech problems

The government banned lead paint in 1978. Homes built before then likely have lead paint.

Lead poisoning prevention

Minnesota Department of Health lead paint hazard information

Funding for other home health hazards

Asthma triggers

If you have a child with asthma, you may be eligible for a home visit to identify possible health and safety hazards. You may also get free supplies to help reduce asthma triggers like dust mites, pests, and mold. Contact us at healthyhomes@hennepin.us or at 612-543-4182.

Home repair program

If you live in suburban Hennepin County, you may be eligible for our home repair program. You can get help repairing health and safety hazards like radon and mold.

Visit the home repair program page.

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