Free resources to tackle lead hazards in South Bend and Mishawaka homes

SOUTH BEND Heidi Beidinger, the co-founder of the South Bend Lead Affinity Group, gave some budget-friendly tips for residents to reduce the amount of lead in the home.

Wet dusting in older homes

Also known as “damp dusting,” this method catches more dust and doesn’t release dust particles into the air.

Take off shoes

Lead is often found in soil as exterior lead paint chips. By leaving shoes at the door, lead soil isn’t tracked inside.

Wash hands before eating

Kids playing in soil with elevated lead levels may have dirt in their fingernails. By efficiently washing their hands, the risk of ingesting lead in soil is reduced.

Keep a healthy diet

“A full healthy belly expels lead more efficiently,” Beidinger said. She suggested eating mustard greens, spinach, broccoli and legumes.

Get a home test

The University of Notre Dame’s Lead Innovation Team offers free home lead screening kits to evaluate a home’s lead levels in paint, soil and water.

Request a free lead test

The St. Joseph County Department of Health offers free risk assessments on pregnant women and children who are younger than seven years old. Residents concerned about lead levels in their home can schedule a free lead risk assessment by contacting the St. Joseph Department of Health.

South Bend

Phone: lead testing a child (574) 235-9750 Option 5, House risk assessment (574-235-9582)

Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday

8 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1- 4 p.m.

Mishawaka

Phone: lead testing a child (574) 245-6656 Option 5, House risk assessment (574-235-9582)

Hours: Monday and Wednesday

8 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1- 4 p.m.

DIY lead removal

For people intending to remove lead themselves, Barney Brooks, a lead certified contractor with House Doctor Renovations, said to make sure they follow EPA standards by minimizing dust, keeping the area clean and controlling waste. Lead-based paint in homes can create lead dust.

Brooks has been working as a lead certified contractor for nearly 20 years, having completed his lead supervisor training in 2005 while working in Benton Harbor. He’s been working within South Bend since 2014. As a contractor, he’s told prior to the job if a home has lead. If a home is pre-1978, he said to assume it has lead.

Brooks gave one cost-effective piece of advice for residents after they’ve determined lead-based paint is present in their home: to thoroughly clean often any area they suspect or know to contain lead. He emphasized horizontal surfaces.

He said ​​table tops, dressers, window wells and window sills are common places for dust to settle.

By cleaning often, homeowners can reduce the spread of lead dust.

For homes that Brooks described as being “high dust,” requiring a lot of scraping and the replacement of old windows that are coated with paint, he said a contractor needs to be hired to remove the lead.

Apply for a city lead removal grant

Brooks suggested reaching out to the city for financial assistance. The average cost of lead removal can range from $2,500 to $8,000 without financial assistance, he said.

The city of South Bend offers a grant up to $20,000 for safe repairs and removal from a Indiana-licensed lead abatement contractor. The eligibility requirements are:

● The residence is in South Bend and built before 1978

● The annual household income is below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) as determined by HUD — a four-person household earning $71,200 or less would be eligible.

● A child under 6 years old or a pregnant woman must currently live in the home

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Eight cost-effective ways to reduce lead in the home