The City of Detroit has received $1.3 million in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to expand residential lead hazard control services. This funding is part of a larger $7 million initiative to reduce lead exposure in homes across the state, particularly in households with Medicaid-enrolled residents.

Detroit’s funding will support a range of lead abatement activities, including inspections, removal or encapsulation of lead-based paint, replacement of hazardous plumbing, and temporary relocation of residents during remediation efforts. Activities funded by the grant must be completed by September 30, 2025.

“Michigan is committed to protecting families from lead exposure by working with communities across the state to reduce or eliminate all sources of lead in the home,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Providing Medicaid funding to these communities to address lead hazards helps protect some of our most vulnerable residents.”

Detroit, with its aging housing stock, has long faced elevated risks of lead exposure, particularly in older rental properties.

Planet Detroit has reported that the city has struggled to enforce lead safety regulations and ensure sufficient funding to mitigate risks. Advocacy groups and public health experts have raised concerns about the city’s current reliance on visual lead hazard assessments, arguing that they may not go far enough to protect children and families from exposure.

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In addition to Detroit, grants were awarded to communities across the state, including:

  • City of Battle Creek: $1.5 million for Calhoun County
  • Community Action Agency: $1.5 million for Lenawee and Hillsdale counties
  • City of Grand Rapids: $700,000 for the Grand Rapids area
  • Human Development Commission: $750,000 for Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, Lapeer, and Bay counties
  • Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties: $700,000 for all Upper Peninsula counties
  • City of Muskegon: $1.2 million for Muskegon County

These grants will fund similar abatement activities in each region, such as lead inspections, soil remediation and replacement of pre-2014 faucets and fixtures that pose a lead risk.

Planet Detroit’s ongoing coverage of lead poisoning has shed light on the devastating impact of lead exposure on children and families in Detroit. Lead poisoning can result in long-term health effects, including developmental delays and cognitive impairments, and disproportionately affects low-income communities of color. While the funding represents a crucial step forward, advocates stress the importance of rigorous implementation and sustained investment.

For more information on lead hazard services, visit Michigan.gov/mileadsafe.

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Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.