CARC Awarded $14 Million Grant for Lead Remediation and Abatement Program

By:  | February 3, 2025 |  | 

Community Affairs & Resource Center (CARC) is proud to announce it has been awarded a $14 million grant for its Lead Remediation and Abatement Program, serving Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean & Atlantic Counties. These funds will enable CARC to conduct free lead-safe repairs in homes where children and adults are exposed to lead-based paint. The lead poisoning crisis poses serious health risks to the community, including heart disease, strokes, cognitive deficits, developmental delays, and other neurological conditions. 

 “We’re pleased to receive this grant, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these funds will have in protecting the health of the vulnerable populations,” said Beatriz Oesterheld, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CARC. “This grant ensures that our lead remediation and abatement program has the necessary support to make a lasting impact and significant difference in communities.”

CARC’s Lead Remediation and Abatement Program has grown significantly over the past few years in response to increased national awareness of the harmful effects of lead poisoning. In the past year alone, CARC has successfully completed work on over 130 homes and has assisted landlords with compliance under New Jersey’s new lead-safe law, Ordinance P.L. 2021, c. 182, which became effective on July 22, 2022. CARC provides end-to-end assistance to landlords until they receive their lead-safe certification under the regulations set forth in J.J.A.C. 5:28A. 

About the Lead Remediation and Abatement Program

This free program identifies and manages the remediation of lead-based paint hazards to prevent elevated blood lead levels in residents in Monmouth, Middlesex, and Atlantic Counties. CARC does not directly perform lead remediation but manages the process. The program emphasizes health protection, safety improvement, property value enhancement, renovation and rehabilitation opportunities, and community health and environmental protection.