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Housing issues affect everyone in Connecticut, from those who are searching for a safe place to live, to those who may find it increasingly difficult to afford a place they already call home.WNPR is covering Connecticut's housing and homelessness issues in a series that examines how residents are handling the challenges they face. We look at the trends that matter most right now, and tell stories that help bring the issues to light.

New Lead Paint Law Passes In New Haven

M R / CREATIVE COMMONS

The New Haven Board of Alders unanimously passed an amendment to a city ordinance Monday night that requires the Health Department to take action when a child under 6 years old has a blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter or greater.

The revision changes the ordinance that Mayor Toni Harp had submitted earlier this year, after multiple lawsuits were filed against the city for not enforcing existing lead laws. Shelley White, director of litigation at New Haven Legal Assistance, said the amendment clarifies the language.

“The ordinance now includes language to say that the city 'shall,' which is very important -- mandatory language, that says the city shall take all necessary actions to make determinations about lead paint hazards and to order the abatement of such hazards as necessary,” White said.

In other words, inspections and investigations will no longer be at the health department’s discretion.

The new law also requires the health director to submit policies and procedures for implementation to the Board of Alders by May 1, 2020.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.