LAWRENCE — Residents in city owned public housing will be ensured access to clean air in healthier homes after the city was awarded $159,883 to address housing hazards such as carbon monoxide, fire safety and lead-based paint.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award to Lawrence Housing Authority on Sept. 17. HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Richard Monocchio, visited Lawrence Housing Authority’s headquarters, 353 Elm St., to deliver the check on Wednesday. A press conference was held, including Mayor Brian A. De Peña, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, and other state representatives, celebrating the six-figure payday for the city’s public housing.

This money will come from the Housing-Related Hazards Capital Fund (HRHCF), a competitive grant program from HUD. The funds target the reduction of health hazards in public housing like mold, carbon monoxide, radon, fire safety and lead-based paint.

Through the Capital Fund Housing-Related Hazards (HRH) and Lead-Based Paint (LBP) Capital Fund programs, HUD announced 36 awards totaling $87.7 million last month. Lawrencxae Housing Authority received funding from the HRH program.

The award highlights HUD’s ongoing efforts to ensure all Americans have healthier and safer homes.

More than 34 million homes across the country contain lead paint and approximately 3.3 million of these properties have children under 6 years old who are exposed to lead-based paint hazards, according to HUD’s American Healthy Homes Survey II.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this leads to more than 1 million children suffering from the irreversible effects of lead poisoning.

“The negative effects of lead poisoning can be irreversible, and cause learning disabilities, reduced intelligence, and life-long health effects in children as well as grave health damage to adults,” Monocchio said, “This funding will help to remediate housing units with potential lead exposure and protect families in the US and their children.”

Lead-contaminated dust is a common cause of elevated blood lead levels in children. Studies by the World Health Organization show children are more susceptible to lead paint exposure than adults, absorbing up to 4-5 times more lead. A child’s brain and nervous system are also more sensitive to the harmful effects of lead. Adults may experience high blood pressure, memory loss, and reduced motor skills.

“Ensuring that citizens can live and thrive in safe and healthy homes is one of HUD’s most critical missions,” HUD New England Administrator Juana B. Matias said. “This grant will allow the Lawrence Housing Authority to better protect its residents and underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to environmental justice and health equity for all.”

State officials such as State Sen. Pavel Payano said they’ve noticed the need for renovation of public housing units of the Merrimack Valley. Payano said he looks forward to uplifting the communities in public housing authority buildings, and developing units that have not received proper maintenance for several decades.

“When people are living in public housing,” Payano said, “They should be able to see these places, not as places where you are stuck in them, but where you are proud to be there and you know that it is temporary.”