Helping landlords and tenants avoid lead dangers

A partnership between the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Neighborhood Services and a program at the Social Development Commission (SDC) is helping make rental properties safer.  The Lead Hazard Reduction Assistance program at SDC is taking part in Landlord Training sessions held by the City to promote lead safety. Staff from the SDC program are taking part in the workshops which are held for new landlords who have obtained city-owned property. Since May of 2013, more than 300 landlords have participated in the presentations which are offered in both English and Spanish.  The workshops inform the landlords about the surprisingly large number of homes in the Milwaukee area which pose a potential threat of lead poisoning, especially for young children and the health ramifications for them if exposed. The presentations allow for new landlords to learn about the problem as well as how they can determine if their new property poses such a threat and how to deal with it.  Lead Hazard program staff say the key to preventing lead poisoning of young children is to reach landlords and homeowners early so they can detect any potential problems and abate them right away. The feedback the lead program staff has gotten from the landlords has been strongly positive so far. To learn more about sthe SDC Lead Hazard Reduction Assistance program, visit www.cr-sdc.org/index/Programs–Services/VITA/Asset-Development/Lead-Hazard-Reduction-Assistance-Program.htm.