PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The cities of Pawtucket and Providence are receiving federal grants to identify and address lead-based paint hazards in public housing.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said Monday that the Pawtucket Housing Authority will receive $1 million and the Providence Housing Authority will receive about $975,000 to perform risk assessments and remove or control lead-contaminated dust and soil at public housing units.
The grants come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, has pushed to strengthen HUD regulations about lead-based paint hazards.
He says every child deserves a safe and healthy home and lead poisoning is a preventable tragedy.
State health officials estimate that about 80 percent of Rhode Island homes were built before 1978 and likely contain lead-based paint.
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