South Shore Healthy Homes Program

Whether you are a homeowner, tenant or landlord, we can help you reduce the dangers of lead and other hazards in your home with our South Shore Healthy Homes Program. Available for houses in Quincy and Weymouth!

What is the South Shore Healthy Homes Program?

The South Shore Healthy Homes Program offers financial assistance to property owners and tenants to remove lead-based paint hazards in their home. The Program pays for all costs associated with lead abatement, which includes the initial and final lead paint inspection, completed by a state licensed inspector, the cost associated with removing lead hazards, plus a $1,000 stipend if your family is required to be temporarily relocated out of the home during the lead abatement work.

Why did I receive a letter from the City notifying me my property has lead based paint hazards?

You received the letter because a lead-based paint inspection was completed on your home in the past and lead paint hazards were identified during the inspection. This information was obtained through the Massachusetts Lead Safe Homes database. The database did not include any information about any lead abatement work being completed on your home, so a letter was sent notifying you about the City’s new program. The letter is not an enforcement letter, it is an informational notice to let you know about a new financial resource that is available to abate lead paint.

I don’t own my home; can I still participate in the Program?

Yes. The Program is open to both owner-occupied properties and tenant occupied properties. If you rent your home, your landlord will need to agree to participate in the Program and both you and your landlord will need to submit Program applications.

Does the program have eligibility requirements?

Yes. In order to be eligible for the Program, the occupant of the home that will be abated must be income eligible and your household income must be below the program income limit. The income limits table is included below and is based on the number of people in the household who occupy the property.

In owner-occupied properties there must be a child under 6 who either lives in the home or visits the home regularly. Rental properties are not required to have a child under 6 living in the home, but the landlord will need to give preference in renting the units to families with children when there is a vacancy.

If I am the property owner, but I don’t live at the property, do I have to meet the income eligibility requirements?

No. The income eligibility requirements apply to the occupant of the unit where lead hazard reduction activities will be completed. If the unit is occupied by renters, then the tenant household will need to be income eligible. If the unit is owner-occupied, then the owner will need to be income eligible.

I’m not sure if my property has lead hazards. What do I do?

Through the Program, a lead paint inspection of your home will be completed by a state licensed inspector, with no cost to you. The lead inspection will determine if there are any lead-based paint hazards. If hazards are identified through the inspection, they will then be abated through the Program. 

I’m not sure if my property has ever been tested for lead paint hazards? Is there any way I can find out?

Yes, the State of Massachusetts Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program maintains a list of all the properties in the State of Massachusetts that have been tested for lead based paint hazards. The list contains all property inspections and any lead-hazard control activities that were completed in compliance with the State Law. The website can be accessed at the link below: https://eohhs.ehs.state.ma.us/leadsafehomes/default.aspx

My property was inspected for lead hazards a few years ago, but no lead abatement work was completed. Am I still eligible to participate in the Program?

Yes. It is likely that the initial inspection will need to be updated to document the existing condition of the property to ensure that all lead hazards are identified. After the addendum to the initial inspection is complete, any lead hazards identified could be abated through the Program.

If I complete a lead inspection at my property am I required to move forward with lead hazard reduction activities?

No. You are not required to move forward with lead hazard control activities, but you are strongly encouraged to do so. Failure to address lead hazards is a violation of the state sanitary code and as an owner of the property you are subject to strict liability and damages if a child under six resides at the property and is lead poisoned.

I’m interested in participating in the Program, what is the next step?

The first step is to submit an application. Once your application has been reviewed and you are approved for the Program, the next step will be to have a lead inspection completed on your home. If your home has lead-based paint hazards, the City’s program will provide funding to abate the hazards. All deleading work must be completed by a licensed deleading contractor who is trained in certified in Massachusetts to complete deleading work. Your project will be considered complete once the deleading work is completed and a Certificate of Full Deleading Compliance has been issued after a final inspection.

Do I have to pay back the money that is used to delead my home?

No. The assistance offered through the Program is in the form of a 0% interest, deferred payment loan that will be forgiven after a period of five-years provided that you meet the Program affordability requirements and give preference to renting your unit to a household with a child under the age of 6 years old.

I am currently renting a unit and not sure if my landlord is willing to participate in the Program? What should I do?

Share the information about the Program with your landlord to gauge their interest. Program staff are also readily available to discuss the Program with your landlord and to answer any questions that they may have.

I am pregnant and we are concerned that the unit that we live in may have lead-based paint hazards, can we apply to the program?

Yes. Units that are occupied by households with an expectant mother, whether or not other children live at the property, are eligible to be assisted through the Program.

My grandchild does not live with me, but I babysit them three days a week for four hours each day, am I eligible for the Program?

Yes. The Program has a Visitation Standard that requires a child under 6 to spend a minimum of two separate days of three hours each day ( 60 hours per year) at the unit for the standard to be eligible for the program.

I want to participate, but I am also interested in making sure my house is entirely safe for my child. Would I have to apply to a new program or do you check for anything else?

We do a full inspection of your home, looking to make it a Healthy Home. We have a separate grant that we automatically apply to all approved participants. We check for all types of hazards in your home including, but not limited to mold, pests, poisons, leaks, and proper ventilation. Below are a few before and after photos of some of our projects. In the top photo we addressed mold concerns and in the bottom we replaced a leaky roof.