![A woman wipes down a windowsill in her home. Windows can be a source of lead paint chips or dust. [ideastream file image]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2b3d969/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F4%2F29%2F2015window.jpg)
Cleveland’s coalition to thwart lead poisoning plans to give the city a series of recommendations this week. The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition briefed City Council Monday on what's likely to be proposed.
Mark McDermott, vice president at the housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners, told council members the coalition’s policy committee has been focused on making houses safe from lead paint, screening children, helping those who are poisoned, and educating landlords and families about lead.
McDermott said the coalition also hopes to create a fund to help property owners finance improvements to their houses.
“We need to figure out how to support them, so that they’re not losing money on this, and at the same time, they can provide a lead-safe unit,” he said.
The fund could also pay to train lead paint inspectors and contractors, McDermott said. He said the coalition plans to talk with foundations, healthcare systems and businesses about contributing.
McDermott said the coalition will deliver its recommendations to council Wednesday.
Councilman Michael Polensek said the city’s approach to inspecting properties for lead must have some teeth.
“The city has not had the greatest track record on inspection and follow-up,” he said.
A different anti-lead poisoning group, Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing, had collected petition signatures to place legislation before council. The council clerk rejected those petitions because the papers lacked one of two required warnings against false information.
