Lead paint continues to be a problem in communities with older housing across metro Detroit and Michigan, causing lead poisoning in thousands of children annually. Lead poisoning can cause neurological and behavioral problems in developing brains that can cause lifelong deficiencies.
Experts say no amount of lead is safe.
Homes built before 1978, when Congress banned lead paint in residential settings, are at high risk for contamination. Detroit kids test positive for lead at triple the state’s rate.
Map: Lead paint risk across Metro Detroit. Source: MI EJ Screen.
Those at risk of having lead paint in their home can consider getting a Lead Inspection Risk Assessment (LIRA), which identifies where lead is in the home and the exposure risk. It also provides advice on options for reducing exposure through mitigation or abatement.
Several federal and state government-funded programs provide funds for mitigating or abating homes, but eligibility is typically restricted by income and/or other factors like geography. Lead mitigation or abatement can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Planet Detroit spoke with Nishaat Killeen, senior project manager with Michigan Saves, about the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund she manages on behalf of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The fund is a new state program launched in 2022 that aims to help homeowners facing costly lead abatement or mitigation projects access resources and financing.
This conversation is lightly edited for clarity.
Planet Detroit: What is the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund?
Nishaat Killeen: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launched the program in 2022 to give a financing option to folks who wanted lead abatement work on their homes. State and local governments have a lot of great programs that can do this work at no cost to the homeowner – but those are income-qualified programs with other criteria to meet the qualifications. Many people get denied because they make too much money. There wasn’t any other kind of financing tool out there specifically for lead, so this helps make it a little more affordable for homeowners, and it’s also available for rental property owners.
Planet Detroit: How does the fund work?
Killeen: Michigan Saves administers the program on behalf of the state of Michigan. The model matches what we do for our energy efficiency and clean energy financing – it’s just a different type of work done in the home. Our programs back loans through a publicly funded loan-loss reserve fund. We have about $1.5 million in the loan-loss reserve fund for lead and will continue making loans until the fund is fully encumbered.
That reduces some risk for the credit unions that we work with, allowing them to expand eligibility requirements and offer more favorable loan terms. Also, like our energy programs, we are building up a network of Michigan Saves contractors that can do this lead abatement work.
Planet Detroit: What is the process for someone to participate in the program?
Killeen: The first step for people to enter our program is to fill out a letter of intent form on our website that lets us know they’re interested and understand the program process. The next step after that is a complimentary home lead inspection risk assessment. Once they have that, they’re armed with a full picture of what work needs to be done.
Next, they engage with a Michigan Saves-authorized lead abatement contractor, who meets all the certifications and levels of insurance, all those same required by the State of Michigan. The contractor works with the homeowner’s budget and what’s in that lead inspection risk assessment and prioritizes the work based on budget and the risk of exposure. There isn’t a requirement in our program to be completely lead-free or to meet any standard because the homeowner or rental property owner is the one who’s in charge. It’s up to them.
Once a homeowner gets that scope of work together, they apply for the loan. The minimum credit score our lenders consider is about 600, and then on top of that, there are factors like debt-to-income ratios. The cap is anything up to $50,000 with 10 to 15 years of repayment terms. Current interest rates are posted on our website.
Then, the work gets done, meets all state requirements, and passes a clearance inspection. The project ends, the loan closes and the homeowner starts making payments. Similar to other Michigan Saves projects, the homeowner doesn’t start making payments on a loan until the work is done.
Planet Detroit: What have been some early successes of the program?
Killeen: Lead stakeholders and lead poisoning prevention advocates throughout the state have told us how glad they are this program exists. It has been well received by that community because they see and interact with folks who don’t make enough money to qualify for a loan or make too much money to qualify for any of these other programs. They see this as meeting that need.
Planet Detroit: Only two projects have been completed one year into the program. What are some of the obstacles you’re facing?
Nishaat Killeen: One obstacle is getting the word out about the program and reaching those who want to do lead abatement work when they’re ready to make that decision. It’s a little different from our energy efficiency and clean energy work. Lead abatement can cost tens of thousands of dollars in some folks’ homes, and it’s often something folks don’t necessarily think about when they first buy a home as work that needs to be done. This work is often unplanned.
So, as we’re talking with potential customers, they have much to consider. It’s a very serious topic, especially if you have young children. You want to do everything you can to provide a safe home for them. Lead abatement differs from a typical home repair or equipment upgrade in your home.
Helping folks through that decision-making process and bringing the program to when they’re ready to receive it are some of the things that we’re working with.
So far, we are focusing on outreach through community partners in areas that are likely to have a lot of older homes – like Benton Harbor Battle Creek, Detroit, and Flint, to name a few, and other entities that cover more rural areas as well. And we’ll also focus on more direct-to-customer marketing in those areas and addressing affordability.