NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — The North Bergen Housing Authority (NBHA) has been awarded the Lead-Based Capital Fund Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $1 million.
The grants (totaling $18 million nationwide) were offered to 20 public housing agencies across the country as part of HUD’s plans to both identify and eradicate lead-based dangers in public housing. The money will be put towards removing lead around windows and door frames that had been encapsulated 20 years ago at North Bergen Housing Authority’s Meadowview Village, which contains eight multi-story buildings, housing 178 units. Current requirements call for complete removal, rather than encapsulation.
“There is nothing more important to the North Bergen Housing Authority than keeping our residents safe and healthy and ridding properties of any and all lead-based hazards always has and always will be one of our top priorities,” said NBHA Executive Director Gerald Sanzari. “We are very grateful to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for this honor and promise to do our part and continue the work we’ve done in the past to earn this grant.”
North Bergen Housing Authority is required to use the funds on lead-based improvements and expects to put the project out to bid in early 2019 and reach completion within three years.
“This is a great achievement and we are very pleased the Department of Housing and Urban Development recognized the fine work NBHA does for North Bergen,” said North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco.
NBHA provides comfortable and affordable housing in a safe, stable and secure living environment for low-income, senior or disabled residents. The NBHA aligns its philosophy with that of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all and to build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination.