Special Programs

Lead Health Services Initiative

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Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to their lifelong health.

Improving Kids Environment has grants available to help you make your home lead safe at no cost to you. The program is open to qualified homeowners, rental occupants, and rental property owners and provides free lead testing and lead hazard control, including some health and safety measures. There is no cost to homeowners or renters under the LHSI grant, though renters must have approval from property owners to move forward with abatement work.

Learn more about lead and its impacts on children by visiting the IKE Lead Poisoning Prevention page or the Lead and Healthy Homes Division at the Indiana Department of Health.

LHSI Grant Eligibility

To qualify for funding from the LHSI program, all of the following criteria must be met:

Home or two-family rental unit built prior to 1978
Individual(s) age 18 or under OR pregnant female lives at or frequently visits your home and is eligible for or enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP
Property taxes are current
Home located in Indianapolis, East Chicago, Gary, Michigan City, Hammond, or Richmond OR proof that a child occupant age 6 and under has an elevated blood lead level

Download the LHSI Application

Common Lead Hazards

Lead was used in both interior and exterior paint until 1978. Houses built before 1978 pose the highest risk for lead poisoning in children. Deterioration of lead-based paint can lead to lead hazards on surfaces that children consistently come into contact with.

What is abatement?

Lead abatement is the process of permanently removing lead hazards from homes by certified contractors and risk assessors. These activities may include encapsulation, enclosure, or removal.

How to apply?

To apply for the LHSI, please complete the Lead and Health Services Initiative form. You can fill in the PDF document and email the completed form to arode@hecweb.org or print and mail the completed form to:

Hoosier Environmental Council
Anna Rode
3951 N Meridian St
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46208

To request an application be mailed to you directly, please email arode@hecweb.org or call 317-930-1023.

What to expect during the process

Once you have completed and submitted your form, you will hear from the LHSI program manager about the status of your application. After eligibility has been confirmed, you will move through the following steps:

Inspection: A certified inspector will conduct a lead assessment in the home.
Bidding: If the project is within the budget constraints, then the project will be bid out to certified contractors.
Abatement Work: The chosen contractor will work with the residents of the home to complete the work on a timeline that works for all parties involved.
Clearance: Finally, the original assessment contractor will perform a follow-up assessment to assure that the lead hazards have been abated.

After the process steps

Lead abatement will make your home lead safe but it is important to follow renovation projects. This means hiring contractors who follow EPA-approved Lead RRP (renovation, repair, and painting) rules. This will reduce the likelihood of lead hazards returning to the home. Learn more about safe renovation practices by reading the EPA Renovate Right Brochure. For those wanting to do projects on their own, we suggest following the EPA guidelines for lead-safe DIY renovations.

About IKE

About IKE

Special Programs

Special Programs

Special Programs

Lead Health Services Initiative

Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to their lifelong health.

LHSI Grant Eligibility

Common Lead Hazards

What is abatement?

How to apply?

What to expect during the process

After the process steps