Friday, May 24 2013 2:35PM

A new HUD initiative will strive to make low-income housing safer for families.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced grant financing that will be put toward making low-income housing safer and healthier for residents.

The agency will distribute $98 million in grants to 38 local projects in an effort to ensure that families living in low-income or impoverished areas will receive the housing assistance they need to make their homes habitable and safe. Specifically, the funds will help eliminate lead paint and other health hazards in thousands of high-risk homes across the country, and educate residents on the dangerous effects of lead paint.

"HUD is committed to protecting children from the hazards that can be caused by deteriorated lead paint, and by the mold that follows moisture intruding into the home, as part of the Department's efforts to make the nation's housing healthy and sustainable," said Jon Gant, Director of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.

An initiative to make homes both safe and modern for those who receive affordable housing assistance or live in low-income residences is a national aim. Many states are devoting funds to improving electrical services, providing broadband capabilities and building community recreational centers for children who live in these areas. Alaska recently announced a new initiative to ban smoking in public housing in an effort to improve the health of both smoking and non-smoking residents. 

For more information, check out this resource: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development