Cleaning of Winnebago County homes with lead paint

Winnebago County officials say they hope to clean a couple hundred homes built before 1950 where lead paint has either caused health problems or poses a health risk.

The Rockford Register Star reports that the county’s health department, with the help of a $2.8 million Department of Housing and Urban Development grant, hopes to clean 200 homes over the life of the three-year grant. And they say they hope they can clean even more homes.

Workers are focusing on homes where children have been found to have lead poisoning. And they’re also has identified at-risk neighborhoods so they can clean up homes before children suffer health problems.

The health department is taking referrals from residents as well as referrals from doctors who have diagnosed children with lead poisoning.