Despite receiving millions of dollars in federal funding, the city of Dallas has failed to administer a program to remove lead from residents’ houses, a Dallas Morning News investigation found. Exposure to lead can lead to health problems, especially for young children.
The city spent about $400,000 from the grant, while about $1.8 million remained unused, according to a financial report submitted to the federal government earlier this year. The city returned most of the funds, leaving multiple residents exposed to the effects of lead.
More than 90 residents asked for help. Only 53 houses were inspected, and only four received lead abatement.
The Dallas Morning News created a timeline based on documents obtained through records requests and interviews with residents.
- May 2018 - Dallas’ housing department applied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Supplemental grant programs
- December 2018 - HUD announced Dallas, Waco and Longview would receive their first lead hazard control grants from a $139 million fund aimed at reducing lead exposure in children nationwide.
- May 2019 - The grant funding became available.
- August 2020 - The grant funding was formally introduced to the Dallas City Council’s Quality of Life Committee. It’s not clear why it took a year for the program to launch. Available records did not shed light on reasons for the delay, and city officials will not comment on the overall process.
- Between March and September 2021 - The city allocated $6,800 for lead testing in 27 children, according to an invoice from UrgentCare2go, a contractor the city used for testing.
- April 2021 - City council members of the Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee requested a comprehensive program overview.
- May 2021 - By this time, the Dallas housing department had processed 17 applications and conducted lead-based paint inspections on eight homes.
- Summer 2021 - Tonya Skinner applied for the grant.
- October 2021 - Skinner’s grandchildren were tested for lead in their blood.
- May 2022 - The Dallas housing department presented the ongoing efforts for the lead program to the Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee. In the meeting, the housing department said zero homes had been completed.
- February 2023 - Loucious Miller was approved for work to be done in his home and was allocated nearly $12,000 for lead removal.
- July 2023 - Zabrina Chism received approval for about $25,000 in funding for lead removal.
- October 2023 - The HUD program closed and no new applications were being accepted.
- November 2023 - Skinner received a letter from the city. The letter, shared with The News, said her application had been canceled, and the program was closed due to a shortage of certified lead contractors.
- February 2024 - Dallas’ housing department submitted the financial report for the grant to HUD. The report showed the city had spent about $400,000, while about $1.8 million in funding remained unused.
The Dallas housing department authorities who oversaw the program did not respond to multiple requests for interviews since February. Residents are still waiting for the lead to be removed from their bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms.
