Funding Loss Details
The city received a $4.9 million grant from Ohio’s Lead Safe Ohio program, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, to remediate lead paint hazards like windows and doors in older homes. Cleveland spent only $1.6 million, fixing 26 homes and queuing 71 more for repairs, before the February 2026 deadline hit. Officials blamed a restrictive $15,000 per-home cap—self-imposed by the city despite the state’s $50,000 limit—creating delays in securing additional funds for full lead clearance.
Advocates’ Calls for Change
On March 2, 2026, Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing and community leaders held a press conference, highlighting the funding loss alongside broader failures. They criticized the city for complying with only about half of rental properties’ lead-safe certification requirements, mandated seven years ago. Demands include streamlining grant processes, raising spending caps, and enhancing enforcement to prevent poisoning that impairs children’s brain development.
City Response and Progress
Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration, via Chief of Integrated Development Tom McNair and Health Director Dr. David Margolius, called the delays a “regulatory nightmare” but noted falling lead poisoning rates at record lows for the second year. The city secured extensions on other federal grants and plans faster spending, while Council Member Kevin Conwell pushes to lobby Gov. Mike DeWine for the funds’ return. This isn’t Cleveland’s first miss; it lost $2 million in HUD lead grants in 2012 for similar reasons.
State Perspective
Ohio Department of Development provided flexibility but reallocated the unspent $3.3 million to faster-moving communities ahead of the 2026 ARPA deadline. Spokesperson Mason Waldvogel emphasized prioritizing immediate use statewide. The state rejected Cleveland’s extension request despite last-minute tweaks to rules.
The loss underscores persistent challenges in Ohio’s urban centers, where lead exposure remains a public health threat, fueling advocates’ urgency for systemic fixes.