Two current sources of financial assistance for home repairs in Dallas County are available that can promote health. The first helps protect children from lead poisoning, and the second helps aging residents safely remain in their homes.
The lead poisoning program targets homes built before 1978 with children under age 6 living there or visiting regularly. The family may own or rent, and their income must be within the guidelines.
Lead poisoning can cause impairment of brain development. Children who are exposed to lead suffer a $3,000 up to $8,000 loss in lifetime productivity for each incremental increase in blood-lead level. Of Iowa children aged 6 and under who were tested for blood lead in 2011, nearly 31,000 had elevated blood lead levels.
With the current focus on our national and state budget, lead poisoning prevention can reduce our costs of special education, medical treatment and law enforcement in the coming decades. See the Center for Disease Control website for more facts about the lead poisoning program.
The second home repair program is Habitat for Humanity’s Rock the Block program. This year’s projects are located in Adel, Redfield and Perry. In order to qualify, the owner must live in the home and be within income guidelines. Call 515-993-3750 for more information on applying.
Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
