UMKC awarded thousands for research on residential hazards

The U.S.  Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $699,997 to the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC), included in the $9.4 million to 13 universities and public health organizations to improve our understanding of the longer term impact of housing interventions targeting lead and other residential hazards and improve methods to identify and control residential health hazards such as pests, injury hazards, and asthma triggers.  These grants are particularly important to improve our ability to protect vulnerable populations, such as children and seniors, from exposure to these hazards.  Read a complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants today.

“We remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all Americans, especially children, by creating safer and healthier homes.” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “This research will inform HUD and our partners in our efforts to protect families and eliminate housing-related health and safety hazards.”

“It’s critical that we continue supporting research to develop and improve methods to create housing that supports the health of residents,” said Michelle Miller, Acting Director of the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. “We know that substandard housing contributes to injury and illness, which is entirely preventable.”

“This is great news for the Kansas City community,” said Regional Administrator Jason Mohr.  “The City was recently awarded over $4 million dollars for Lead Paint Reduction and other health safety hazards.  With this research funding, UMKC, the Kansas City Health Department, and Children’s Mercy will partner to keep housing lead safe and reduce lead poisoning in children.”

HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes promotes state and local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead-paint and other housing-related health and safety hazards from lower income homes, stimulate private sector investment in lead hazard control, support cutting-edge research on methods for assessing and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards, and educate the public about the dangers of hazards in the home.  The grants are being offered through HUD’s Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grant Programs.