How to Increase Safety Awareness in Low Income Homes
Public housing is supposed to provide safe and decent housing for low-income families, people with disabilities and the elderly, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Public housing can be in urban or rural areas. Once you are approved for low-income housing, make sure that your dwelling is safe. If not, there are many programs available to help you make the necessary improvements so that you are living in a safe home. The only way for people to get help, though, is if they know that help is available. People need to be informed.
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Instructions
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Post fliers in libraries, senior centers and, if allowed, in doctor's offices and grocery stores that tell senior citizens about federal grants available to them regarding safety issues. These government grants are for people aged 62 and older, so that they can continue to make the necessary improvements on aging homes. Roofs, plumbing, upgrading the electrical wiring and weatherization are common reasons the grants are given. Let people know they can contact HUD to find out more information.
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Put up a flier in schools, libraries, community centers and, if allowed, in grocery stores telling the public that they can get federal assistance in the form of HUD grants. These grants are for low-income people or people with disabilities and can be used for housing repairs.
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Add a section on the flier that any assistance or grants must be used for home improvements regarding safety. They are to be used only to make the house safe to live in, and cannot be used to remodel the kitchen or add to the deck.
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Inform landlords of public housing buildings that lead paint is still a problem and ask if you can put up a flier regarding lead education. Ways to help children not get lead poisoning include helping the tenants control household dust with door mats, teaching families proper hygiene, covering bare dirt areas and asking tenants to report peeling paint.
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Get the word out in rural areas by distributing your flier in the downtown area shops where people do business. Rural people can get government loans through the Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loan program. These funds are for repairs to improve or modernize a rural home or to remove health or safety hazards. These loans have a 1 percent interest rate and can be paid back over 20 years.
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