About the Coalition
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is a public-private partnership formed in 2019 to address the issue of lead poisoning in our community. Our approach is preventive, comprehensive, and long-term.
The Coalition is open to everyone and, today, is made up of more than 500 members, 150 organizations, state and local governments, and families impacted by lead.
The Coalition believes no child should ever be lead poisoned.
About Us
The Coalition is focused on preventing lead poisoning. The centerpiece of this effort is the Lead Safe Certification.
The Coalition is also works on:
- Education and community engagement
- Increased screening and testing for lead poisoning, and
- Early intervention for children and families impacted by lead.
The Coalition elevates the voices of residents, landlords, advocates, and experts. We rely on the experiences of those who have been impacted by lead poisoning in:
- Developing policy recommendations;
- Creating the Lead Safe Home Fund;
- Establishing the Lead Safe Resource Center; and
- Educating and empowering community members to make their neighborhoods lead safe.
The work of the Coalition is spread across four working committees and six Ad Hoc Committees.
Lead Safe Home Fund
The Coalition’s Lead Safe Home Fund (LSHF) is a first-of-its-kind, public-private fund to provide families and property owners with resources they need to live lead safe. The LSHF helps to ensure the Lead Safe Certification is equitable, feasible, and sustainable.
The Lead Safe Home Fund programming includes:
Administrator: Environmental Health Watch
Administrators: Famicos Foundation, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
Administrator: Starting Point
Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Committees
The Coalition has four working committees and six Ad Hoc committees, all working in unison to guide the coalition on how to make Cleveland lead safe.
Lead Safe Programs
Sponsored by the Lead Safe Home Fund, our core programs provide residents, property owners, child care providers and more with the resources necessary to prevent lead exposure.
Our Guiding Principles
1. Systems change
Lead Safe Cleveland will work to transform policies and systems to promote lead poisoning prevention, screening and testing, treatment and intervention, and education and outreach.
2. Public-private partnership
Lead poisoning affects all of us, and we all need to take responsibility for addressing it. Dedicated resources—from the public, private, corporate, and philanthropic sectors—are needed for lead testing, screening, lead hazard control and abatement, relocation, community education and outreach, workforce development for lead professionals, increasing the supply of safe, affordable housing options, training in lead-safe work practices for property owners, contractors, and more.
3. Cleveland approach
Lead Safe Cleveland will identify and pursue solutions based on science, best practices, and common sense, rooted in Cleveland’s unique assets and challenges.
4. Primary prevention
Lead Safe Cleveland believes in preventing childhood lead exposure in all residential properties, childcare facilities, schools, and other buildings during renovation, repair, regular maintenance, and demolition without threat of displacement.
5. Families deserve safe, affordable housing
Cleveland families must have access to safe, affordable housing. Families should have information on lead hazards in properties and how to protect themselves and their children.
6. Accountability
Lead Safe Cleveland will partner with and hold accountable rental property owners, governmental agencies, healthcare providers, insurers, the legal system, and others to protect the health and safety of children and families.
7. Outcome oriented
The Lead Safe Cleveland goals, objectives, and actions will be directed toward achieving measurable outcomes.
8. Genuine community partnership
Lead Safe Cleveland must be sure that the voices of people directly affected by lead are heard. For solutions to be sustainable, those directly affected must be full partners in project design and implementation.
9. Solidarity and collaboration
Groups working on similar issues with compatible visions should consciously act in solidarity, mutuality, and support each other’s work. We will treat each other with justice and respect, both on an individual and an organizational level.
10. Integrity
Lead Safe Cleveland will operate on the mode of community-centeredness. We must “walk our talk.” We must live out the values that we say we’re struggling for and we must work toward justice, peace, and community
"The ill effects of lead poisoning are completely preventable by removing lead exposure."
Dr. Aparna Bole
For More Information
Contact Us
If you are interested in joining the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, send us a message.