MDHHS Benton Harbor Lead Safe Home Program

How it works

Berrien County’s page says the MDHHS Lead Safe Home Program provides Benton Harbor residents with a free in-home lead inspection to find lead hazards, plus plumbing replacement and lead abatement to fix those hazards. In homes built before 1978, the program identifies lead in paint, dust, soil, and drinking water and fixes those hazards. In homes built after 1978, it identifies and fixes lead found in plumbing. (berriencounty.org)

What the money covers

The program describes several services:

• Home lead inspection, including plumbing assessment and a lead-safe home assessment.
• Plumbing repairs or replacement when lead or galvanized plumbing is found, with follow-up water testing.
• Lead abatement for hazards in paint, dust, and soil within and around the home.
• For pre-2014 bathroom and kitchen faucets used for drinking water, replacement is included. (berriencounty.org)

Amounts and matching

The page does not give a dollar cap. It says there is no cost for plumbing or lead abatement services in owner-occupied homes. Rental property owners are asked to contribute a small amount to the overall cost of lead abatement only, and there is no cost-share required for rental property owners for plumbing work. (berriencounty.org)

How to apply

Residents must complete and submit an application to MDHHS before services can be provided. The application is available at the state lead-safe site or by phone. Tenants may apply, but landlord permission will be needed for plumbing and lead abatement work. (berriencounty.org)

Timing and deadlines

The page says the program is available now and that the goal over the next several years is to make every home in Benton Harbor lead-safe. The page also notes lead abatement may follow plumbing work later because of a workforce shortage. (berriencounty.org)