Services

A Lead Safe Certificate is a special inspection that says the property does not contain any hazardous lead paint. The certificate is provided after a thorough inspection as proof of the review and good status. 

Inspectors will diligently examine problem areas and areas that may be difficult to spot. 

Determine how likely each hazard will occur and how severe the consequences would be (risk analysis and evaluation). Decide what steps the organization can take to stop these hazards from happening or to control the risk when the threat can't be eliminated (risk control). Inspectors will diligently examine problem areas and areas that may be difficult to spot. While lead paint is harmful, it's only dangerous when disturbed or damaged. Therefore, lead paint that is in good condition and doesn't run the risk of being concerned in the future can be left alone.

Abatement is a specialized activity designed to address lead in the home. Abatement is sometimes ordered by a state or local government and can involve specialized techniques not typical of most residential contractors. Hazardous materials are sealed to prevent any health threats. The encapsulation coating is consistent with paint, applied with a sprayer or rolled on, and used in both asbestos and lead-related construction to seal and bind together. Encapsulation is an interim control until the asbestos can be removed entirely. Removal eliminates the hazard and shall be drawn by a licensed abatement contractor.

The City of Lancaster Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program 

Landlords & Tenants

– Landlord and Tenant must complete an application and provide documentation to confirm eligibility

– Landlord must be current on mortgage, taxes, and any financial obligations that are due to the City of Lancaster

– Landlord must have property insurance

– Total Income level of households should not exceed income guidelines. Income for a family of four should be less than $72,150.

– Landlords are required to contribute 10% of the project cost before the start of the remediation work and are responsible for relocating tenants during remediation

Homeowners 

– Homeowners must complete an application and provide documentation to confirm eligibility

– Must be current on mortgage, taxes, and any financial obligations to the City of Lancaster.

– Must have Property insurance

– Total Income level of households should not exceed income guidelines. Income for a family of four should be less than $72,150.

*Source- City Of Lancaster 

Free Families from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and Lead Hazard Control

What Do Lead-Free Families Do? 

Our program offers the following services across Lancaster County*:

• Lead screening
• In-home lead testing and remediation
• Healthcare and social service support 
• Community education and outreach
• Public policy advocacy and education

*In the City of Lancaster, Lead-Free Families works collaboratively with the Lead-Safe Lancaster program to identify and remediate lead hazards in Lancaster City homes and provide support services and education.

 How do I know if I am eligible for this program?

To be eligible for the Lead-Free Families program, the following criteria must be met:  

• The home must have been built before 1978
• The home must be within Lancaster County
• At least one child under the age of 6 must live in the home or visit
• A family's household income must be no more than 400% of the current Federal Poverty Level: 
  
  • Household of 1 person: Income below $51,520
  • Home of 2 people: Income below $69,680
  • FamilyFamily of 3 people: Income below $87,840
  • Household of 4 people: Income below $106,000
  • Family of 5 people: Income below $124,160
  • Family of 6 people: Income below $142,320
  • Family of 7 people: Income below $160,480
  • Family of 8 people: Income below $178,640

Both homeowners and tenants can apply for the Lead-Free Families program. Lead remediation services are provided at no cost to owner-occupants. Landlords pay 10% of the remediation costs for their properties.

*Scoure Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

COLUMBIA LEAD REMEDIATION ASSISTANCE

COLUMBIA – October 5, 2021 – Columbia Borough residents can take advantage of a decade-long investment in testing for and remediating lead paint in their homes, thanks to a public health initiative.
Lead-Free Families is the first comprehensive childhood lead poisoning prevention program in the nation to be funded entirely by a health system. The initiative aims to create a pathway to eliminate childhood lead poisoning across Lancaster County. 
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health recently committed to investing $50 million over ten years to identify and remediate lead health hazards in at least 2,800 homes across the county.
"We hope residents across Columbia and Lancaster County, especially those with children, will sign up for this important opportunity to protect themselves and their families," said Heather Zink, Columbia Borough Council president. "We're grateful to Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health for funding this critical initiative."
In Columbia, nearly 75 percent of the homes were built before the 1978 ban on lead-based paint. Countywide, it is estimated that about 91,000 Lancaster County homes have lead hazards, often from lead-based color.
The Lead-Free Families program offers free remediation through grants for income-qualified households – families or homes earning 400 percent of the federal poverty level or less. This means a house of four making $106,000 or less in combined annual income would qualify.
Landlords interested in participating in the program will pay only 10 percent of remediation costs if a lead is an issue at any of their properties. According to program officials, the cost of lead remediation is $12,500.

*Source priceColumbiana