Get Ahead of Lead: Grants, Training & Tools for a Safer Home

Why Lead Safety Matters in Buffalo and Beyond

Buffalo consistently ranks among the top 10 U.S. cities for elevated blood lead levels among children—primarily due to lead in old paint, soil, and water infrastructure . Exposure, even at low levels, can cause irreversible harm to cognitive development, attention span, and speech in kids under 6 .

The good news? Lead poisoning is 100% preventable, starting with awareness across homeowners, landlords, caregivers, and contractors .

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🧰 Grants & Financial Assistance

• Erie County Lead Grant: Eligible homeowners and landlords can secure funds to remediate lead hazards in older housing .

• Leading in Lead : Offers subsidized lead-paint repair for qualifying properties cited for lead violations by Erie County.

• Landlord Property Improvement Program: Helps small-scale landlords in Buffalo access repair funding through Home HeadQuarters .
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🎓 Lead-Safe Training & Certification

Environmental Education Associates (EEA)

• Offers USEPA-, HUD-, and OSHA-accredited lead safety certifications and refresher courses across New York—Buffalo, Manhattan, Utica, Rochester, and online .

• Certifications include: Lead Inspector, Lead Risk Assessor, Renovator/Supervisor/Worker, Dust Sampler, and Homeowner Awareness .

• Courses blend online learning and hands‑on practice—covering lead-safe work, containment, dust sampling, and regulatory compliance .

Local Free Training Programs

• Erie County Health Dept offers free 6-hour Lead‑Safe Work Practices (LSWP) for homeowners. Homeowners get a free membership to the Tool Library, where they can rent HEPA vacs and other lead safe equipment.

• Homeowners and landlords can join RRP classes ($110 fee; free for veterans) to legally perform renovations in rental properties .

• Choosing EPA-certified renovators is required for all disturbing paint in pre‑1978 homes . Lead connections has a list of contractors and resources. 

🌿 Gardeners Beware: Lead in Soil Can Harm You!- By Emere Nieves

If you love getting your hands dirty—literally—it’s important to know that urban soil can contain dangerous levels of lead, especially near homes built before 1978, along old fences, garages, or near peeling paint.

⚠️ How Lead Enters the Soil:

• Decades of flaking lead-based paint, car exhaust, and demolition debris have left a toxic legacy in many Buffalo backyards.

• Soil near foundations, old buildings, and roadways tends to have higher lead concentrations.

🌱 Tips for Gardening Safely:

• Dampen soil before digging to prevent inhaling lead-contaminated dust.

• Always wear gloves when working in soil, and avoid touching your face while gardening.

• Build raised garden beds using clean soil and compost to reduce exposure. Consider flowers instead of vegetables.

• Plant fruits and vegetables away from the home’s exterior walls and old fences.

• Test your soil before planting—kits are available online or through local extension offices.

• After gardening, wash hands, clothes, and tools thoroughly to reduce contamination.

• Mulch or cover bare soil in non-garden areas to suppress dust and minimize risk to kids and pets.

Bonus Tip:

Leafy greens and root vegetables absorb more lead than fruiting crops like tomatoes or peppers. Use caution when choosing what to plant in untested areas.

🧤 Lead-Safe Practices for Every Season:

Drawing on EEA’s “Lead Safety Year‑Round” guide :

• Spring: Wet-clean dust, inspect peeling paint on windows, cover bare soil in play areas.

• Summer: During renovations, use containment, HEPA vacuums, and lead-safe methods under certified supervision.

• Fall: Seal windows and doors, reapply intact paint, check for chipping paint.

• Winter: Focus indoors—seal cracks, mop floors, and minimize dust buildup.

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🧰 Community Resources & Tool Access

• Lead Safe Tool Borrowing Program: After completing free LSWP training, participants get a free year of access to HEPA vacuums, PPE, lead-safe consumables, and tools—making safe renovations affordable .

• City of Buffalo 311 “Lead Line”: Residents can request inspections or file complaints directly from the Buffalo 311 center .

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🤝 Join the Lead Safe Task Force
The Community Foundation’s Lead Safe Task Force connects parents, caregivers, nonprofits, and local leaders to promote lead awareness, influence policy, and improve code enforcement .

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✅ Your Action Plan: How to Get Lead Safe & 10 Step Lead Safe Field Guide:

1. Check if your home was built before 1978—if yes, assume lead presence. Go to Getaheadoflead.org to learn more.

2. Apply for grants or loans via Buffalo or Erie County programs to cover remediation costs .

3. Enroll in training: EEA courses for professionals, LSWP free training for homeowners .

4. Borrow tools like HEPA vacuums at the Tool Library program .

5. Perform upgrades seasonally with lead-safe methods (wet-scraping, containment, cleaning, certified contractors) .

6. Join the Task Force to amplify your impact and stay updated .

7. Use Buffalo’s 311 Line for testing or inspections .

🧭 Final Thoughts:

Protecting children and communities from lead is achievable—and affordable—when we work together. Grants, training, tool access, and seasonal diligence offer a roadmap to a lead-safe Buffalo.By following this guide—apply for funding, get trained, take lead-safe actions, and partner with community efforts—you can help eliminate lead exposure and ensure healthier futures. Equal Housing Opportunity