Evaluaci´ on del Rendimiento en Sistemas Biom´etricos Multimodales

Generally, occupants of homes that contain lead-based paint should be temporarily relocated to lead-safe housing before the start of lead hazard control work, or renovation or remodeling work that disturbs more than a small area of lead-based paint, and they should not return until the work is completed and the work site has been vacuum cleaned and wet washed and passed clearance.

Relocation is not necessary if work area containment is practiced and either only a few square feet of paint will be disturbed or the work can be completed in a few days while occupants stay out of the work area.

Temporary relocation can be carried out most efficiently and costs minimized by (a) ensuring that

paint-disturbing work is completed as quickly as possible; (b) occupants are fully advised in writing of the necessity of not returning until the dwelling has been thoroughly cleaned; and (c) arrangements are made in advance for the protection and security of occupants’ belongings and for the transportation needs of schoolchildren.

B

Immediate/Direct Results: Temporary relocation protects occupants from exposure to lead during such activities.

Public Health Benefits: In areas such as New England, 20% or more of elevated blood lead level cases can be traced to unsafe remodeling or renovation of the child’s home. Therefore, ensuring needed relocation could materially reduce childhood lead poisoning.

Other Indirect/Collateral Benefits: Rental property owners and contractors would avoid liability for poisoning children by providing temporary relocation.

S

P

I

Statewide City- or County-Wide

P

A

K

P

Health Department Property Owners

Community-based Organizations Remodeling and Renovation Contractors

C

E

Staff requirements: Health and Housing Department staff, supported by community and advocacy organizations, would have to devote time to educating landlords and contractors on the importance of temporary relocation. Contractor training programs should include temporary relocation in training materials.

Building permit agencies could review plans for occupied property renovations.

Other resource requirements: Training materials and a database of housing by year built would be required.

Institutional capacity required: Knowledge of the local housing base.

Cost considerations: The cost of temporary relocation should be borne by owners of rental properties. At minimum, state or local agencies could encourage rental property owners to pay for incidental costs, such as transportation and security of occupants’ belongings, if occupants arrange to stay with friends or relatives. Some public and private agencies have secured lead-safe apartments and required rental property owners to pay for

Lead Safety and Healthy Homes Standards

PROTECT OCCUPANTS DURING HAZARD REMEDIATION AND RENOVATION WORK

incidental costs. Where private sector accommodations must be used, relocation costs can be minimized if the agency can establish a public-private partnership with hotels or motels to set aside low-cost rooms for temporary relocation.

In addition, it is conceivable that a temporary relocation requirement will result in rental property owners passing the cost to tenants in the form of higher rent.

Timing issues: N/A

Feasibility of Implementation: High. Encouraging temporary relocation to homes of the occupant’s friends or relatives may be one practical way of minimizing costs and ensuring successful implementation. Otherwise, feasibility will depend upon the availability of funds to implement a program.

P

O

/B

It may be very difficult to impose temporary relocation requirements on landlords without the availability of some type of cost-sharing.

A

R

N/A

I

S

P

This strategy is HUD’s temporary relocation policy for federally assisted housing rehabilitation and renovation work. The policy provides for temporary relocation of residents to lead-safe housing during the work period, but it does not require relocation if certain requirements are met. If only a small area of paint will be disturbed;

if the work can be completed in one 8-hour work day or within five calendar days, occupants are kept out of the work area, warning signs are placed in each room where work is occurring, and the area is thoroughly cleaned are work is completed; or only outside work is involved, the property owner does not have to relocate the unit’s occupants.

Jurisdiction or Target Area: Nationwide federally-assisted housing Primary Actor: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secondary Actor(s): N/A

Staffing utilized: Staff at more than 1,000 local housing agencies across the U.S. monitor relocation within the context of their more comprehensive grant monitoring.

Other resources utilized: Some agencies allow temporary relocation costs as an eligible expense for housing rehab programs.

Factors essential to implementation: Coordination and cooperation among occupants, property owners, and contractors involved in the rehabilitation and renovation work. It also requires ongoing inspection and

enforcement by HUD and local housing agencies.

Limitations/challenges/problems encountered: HUD exempted elderly homeowners from relocation requirements since local agencies reported that this population did not want to be relocated and was considered at low risk.

Magnitude of Impact/Potential Impact: Unknown.

Potential for replication: Moderate

Lead Safety and Healthy Homes Standards

PROTECT OCCUPANTS DURING HAZARD REMEDIATION AND RENOVATION WORK

Contact for Specific Information

HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control 202-755-1755

References for additional information

1. HUD Interpretive Guidance on Occupant Relocation

www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/1012/html/relocation.html 2. HUD regulations on occupant protection

www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/1012/html/occupant_protection.html

Lead Safety and Healthy Homes Standards

REQUIRE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO INFORM TENANTS