Is Your Home Safe from Lead?
If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint. As that paint chips and peels, it can turn into invisible dust that settles on floors, windowsills, soil, and toys. This dust is poisonous—especially for young children, who often put their hands or objects in their mouths and can easily breathe in or swallow it.
Lead is something you can’t see or smell, but it can have serious effects on your health.
Early detention can make a meaningful, long lasting difference for your family.
You May Be at Risk If:
- Your home was built before 1978
- You see chipping or peeling paint
- Are pregnant or have young children or grandchildren in the home
- In Kalamazoo, 32,500 homes were built before 1978—so this is more common than you may think.
Free Help Is Available
A grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes it possible for KNHS Homeownership Services, in partnership with the City of Kalamazoo, to offer a FREE Lead Hazard Control Program for eligible residents.
That means:
- No cost to you
- Professional inspection of your home
- Repairs, replacements, and cleaning to remove lead hazards
- A final safety check to make sure your home is safe
LEAD HAZARD CONTROL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Who is Eligible?
You may qualify if you:
- Live in the city of Kalamazoo
- Own or Occupy a home built before 1978
- Complete an eligibility application
- Are up to date on property taxes (or in a repayment plan)
- Pass initial housing visual inspection (i.e. provide access to all rooms, walls, and windows in the home)
- Maintain ownership for a minimum of 3 years after work is completed
Homeowners:
Must have household income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)
Renters:
- Must have household income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)
- Landlord must agree and participate in process
Prioritized Households:
Households that have children age 5 and under residing in or visiting the home (a minimum of 6 hours a week/60 hours a year) will be prioritized for the program. That means even if you are a grandparent or caregiver for small children in your home, you may qualify! All other eligible applicants will be served based on availability.
Program Restrictions
- This program only addresses lead-based paint hazards found in homes built before 1978. Lead found in water and/or pipes is not included in this program. Instead that is referred to the City of Kalamazoo to take care of.
- Mobile home and homes being purchased through Land Contract are ineligible for this program.
Don’t delay, apply now.
It’s free, it’s simple, and it could make a lifelong difference for your family. Contact Stacey Banks at (269) 385-2916 or email lead@knhs.org
Why is lead Dangerous
Young children and unborn babies can suffer a lifetime of harmful effects from Lead exposure. Don’t be fooled, even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
For children under 6, lead poisoning affects almost every system of the body but the most devastating are to the brain, causing:
- Reduced IQ and Learning Disabilities
- Inability to control behavior
- Irritability
Lead doesn’t just go away–it can stay in a child’s body for up to 40 years, stored in their bones.
How the Program Works
Step 1: Home Assessment
A certified Lead Risk Assessor (LRA) will come to your home and test for lead using specialized equipment. They’ll check all interior and exterior walls, windows, flooring, siding, soffits, and more.
Step 2: Repairs & Cleanup
If lead is found, trained crews will safely repair, replace, or seal problem areas. Then your home is thoroughly cleaned.
Step 3: Final Safety Check
Your home is tested again to make sure it is safe for you and your family.
Step 4: Healthy Home Upgrades
Once your home is cleared, you may also qualify for additional
FREE Healthy Home improvements like:
- Air duct cleaning
- Furnace and ventilation checks
- Filter replacements
- Carpet cleaning
This program is about safety, not remodeling. Our goal is to remove the lead paint hazard and make your home healthier.
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
My home was built in the 1900s, and I had no idea how much lead paint was inside and outside. A friend told me about KNHS and their Lead Program. I have a large family with many young children who visit often, and the paint was chipping, leaving shavings around the house and in some rooms.
The KNHS Lead Hazard Control Program Manager stayed in close contact the entire time and became a strong advocate for me, helping work with my historic neighborhood association to get the cleanup approved. ALL of the windows and the entire surface of my house was covered in Lead.
Once the clean up crew began, it took about a month to fully complete. I moved out during the process, and when I came back, it felt like a big, ugly cloud of lead had been lifted. My home was finally safe! I felt clean, relieved, and so grateful. It was like walking into a brand new home. I never could have afforded this on my own, and now my home is safe for my family. I’ll always have love in my heart and honor KNHS for what they do and can do for people’s lives.
– Heidi Curry
Getting Help Won’t Get You in Trouble.
We understand that some families worry about what might happen if they sign up.
Here’s the truth:
This program is here to support you, not report you. Lead exposure is tied to older housing–not a reflection on a family–and often goes undetected, earning the name “silent pediatric epidemic.”
Our goal is simple: to make your home safer for your family.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM ENDS DECEMBER 31, 2026.
To find out more about the program or to apply, contact
Stacey Banks at (269) 385-2916 or email lead@knhs.org