Resident Outreach Materials
Your right to lead safety in CMHA
properties
As a resident of Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), you have rights and responsibilities that are outlined in the HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule, the Public Housing Rental Handbook, Ohio Landlord Tenant Law, Ohio Administrative Code, and the Codified Ordinances of the City of Cleveland. This document is a summary of those rights and duties - it is not legal advice. If you need legal assistance, contact Cleveland Legal Aid Society or a private attorney. For more detailed information, visit the CLASH website: clashcle.org
Resident rights and duties
In general, residents must keep their unit reasonably clean and free of dust and debris. Regular cleaning also helps prevent lead exposure.
2, Residents are requested to notify CMHA of deteriorated paint in a residential unit or common areas including building entryway, hallways, laundry room, or play equipment. The resident may be asked to send pictures if able. This includes any paint that is chipping, peeling, cracked or being rubbed off the surface that may be caused by friction or impact, such as a door frames, stairs, or windows. The resident should report any painted surface that is damp, or water damaged in any way, even if the paint is still intact.
3. If a child under 6 years old who lives in a rental unit is identified as having an elevated blood lead level (EBLL), a resident is requested to immediately inform the property manager (in writing) that a child living in the resident unit has received notice of an EBLL. CMHA must take steps to verify this information with a health provider or the local health department. Upon verifying this information, CMHA must conduct an environmental investigation (lead risk assessment) by a certified lead risk assessor within 15 calendar days. CMHA must notify local the HUD Field Office, local health department, and the resident family of the results within 10 business days.
4. A resident is encouraged to retain and periodically review the pamphlet that they have received: “Protect a a resident family from lead in a a resident home.”
The City of Cleveland requires property owners to provide 7 days advance written notice to all occupants of residential structures from which the lead-based paint is to be removed and to all occupants of residential structures which are within 30 feet of the residential structure. The notice shall include, at a minimum, the address at which the lead-based paint will be removed, the start date of the lead-based paint removal, the anticipated length of time to complete the removal, and the method by which the lead-based paint will be removed.
5. Any time that repairs of deteriorated paint are being undertaken, a resident is required to stay out of the designated work area. A resident may be asked to take other measures like staying with a relative or an alternative housing site until the work is completed and cleared of all dust-lead hazards.
CMHA’s duties
1. Provide a written notice to current and prospective residents of any known lead hazards and steps taken to address those hazards.
2. In Cleveland, if the owner of a residential unit learns of the presence of lead-based paint and/or lead based paint hazards the owner shall notify each tenant of the presence of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards within 10 days of discovering its presence.
3. When a rental unit is found to have lead-based paint hazards, then a risk assessment is required for other assisted target housing units in the property where children under age six reside or are expected to reside (known as other “covered units”), and residents of other covered units can be notified of risk assessment results through a central posting or individual notifications. 4.
If a PHA uses its own staff to perform repairs, maintenance, and rehabilitation of pre-1978 housing that has not been certified as lead-free, the staff must obtain training to be certified renovators (RRP certification). A PHA must also ensure that it has at least one certified renovator on staff to be available to actively supervise projects. Information about certification requirements and available training for providers is available on EPA's website.
Source materials
HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule
Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) Toolkit
Codified Ordinances of the City of Cleveland Chapter 240
Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-30 | Lead Screening and Assessment
Public Housing Rental Handbook
Who is CLASH?
Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH) is an all volunteer coalition of grassroots organizations which is working to make Cleveland lead safe. CLASH is reaching out to CMHA residents to share information about lead safety, alert residents to upcoming events including lead risk assessments, child lead testing and resident training and engagement events.
You may see CLASH
volunteers in your building
or on the grounds. Feel free
to ask questions or visit the
CLASH website for more
information on lead safety.
clashcle.org
In this package, you will find
Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home, an EPA brochure
What is lead? Why is it in my home?
Know your rights under HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule
A refrigerator magnet with CLASH contact information
CLASH and CMHA encourage you to cooperate with lead testing in your home and to get active in lead safety activities! Together we can achieve a lead-safe Cleveland.
what is lead? why is it in my home?
Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can be harmful to people.
People are exposed to lead by eating lead paint chips or inhaling lead dust.
Children may pick up lead dust from soil, carpets, or polluted air. Before the age of 6, children are more likely to be exposed - and most likely to be harmed by exposure.
There is no safe level of exposure. Even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues.
The effects of lead poisoning can be permanent and disabling.
NOTE:
Not all homes built before 1978
have lead hazards…but all must be
tested.
Not all children living in pre-1978 homes have been exposed…but all must be tested.
who is at risk?
Children who live in homes or buildings built before 1978, especially if there are signs of chipping, peeling or disturbed paint surfaces or bare soil.
Homes where which have drinking water from lead pipes or plumbing fixtures.
Homes located near airports, highways, or factories.
Children who less than six years old are at a higher risk of lead exposure because their bodies are rapidly developing.
Children whose diets lack Iron, Calcium and Vitamin C.
Children who are crawling and engaging in hand-to-mouth behavior.
Adults who are or have been exposed to lead can pass it along to their babies while they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Adults who work in industries or have hobbies that expose them to lead may bring lead home with them, exposing their families without knowing.
what are the signs of lead poisoning in children?
Often, children who have lead poisoning have no symptoms. Child lead testing is the only way to know for sure. Medicaid requires Child Lead Testing at 12 months and 24 months or before 6 years of age if not previously tested. Contact your health provider to arrange for testing. Even healthy-looking children can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
Symptoms of lead poisoning in children can include:
Chronic cramps or abdominal pain
Hyperactivity (restlessness, fidgeting and talking too much)
Learning delays
Headaches
Vomiting
Fatigue
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/about/index.html?
CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/infographi
c.htm
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11312-
lead-poisoning
https://www.clashcle.org/resources/resources-for
families
visit our website: clashcle.org