HOMELESSNESS

        According to the Stewart B. McKinney Act, 42 USC 11301 et. Seq. (1994) a person is considered homeless who “ lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence and/or has a night time residence that is a supervised private or publicly operated shelter providing temporary residence”.

        The number of homeless families with children has increased at an alarming rate over the past ten years, becoming the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Of the 777 homeless parents interviewed in ten cities, 22% said they left their last residence because of domestic violence (Homes for the Homeless, 1998).

        A growing shortage of affordable housing and an increase in poverty is largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the years. There is an ever widening gap between the number of affordable housing and the number of people needing housing.

        In the Buffalo/Erie County area, a worker earning the Federal Minimum Wage ($5.15 per hour) has to work 76 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent (National Low Income Housing Coalition 1999).

        A missed paycheck, a health crisis or an unpaid bill can push a family into homelessness.

        Housing assistance programs can make a difference. However, the demand for assisted housing exceeds the supply. The limited number of housing subsidies and subsidized apartments means many families are placed on lengthy waiting lists.

        The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found in 1999 that a family’s average time on a waiting list for some of the largest public housing authorities rose from 22 months to 33 months from 1996 to 1998. The average waiting list for Section 8 assistance rose from 26 months to 28 months during this same period.

        Neighborhood Legal Services offers assistance to homeless and near homeless individuals through our Homeless Task Force Program. We can also assist individuals in identifying and applying for various service and benefit programs. If you would like more information on the services we offer, call Neighborhood Legal Services at 847-0650 or check out our web page at WWW.NLS.ORG.

        Lead poisoning is the foremost environmental health risk to American children, especially poor children, children of color, and those living in older, poorly maintained housing.

        Lead is a naturally occurring element which is highly toxic to all human organs and systems when digested or inhaled. Lead affects both children and adults, although children under the age of six and fetuses are the most sensitive.

        In children, lead poisoning affects the developing brain and nervous system, causing reductions in IQ and attention span, reading and other learning disabilities, aggressive behavior, hearing loss, and coordination problems.

        Before we knew lead was dangerous, it was used in many products, including gasoline, paint, plumbing hardware, pottery and crystal. The greatest risk of lead exposure, especially for children, is from lead-based paint chips or dust.

        Lead poisoning crosses the barriers of race, income, and geography, with a significant impact on the poor who live in poor quality housing.

        A child can be poisoned by eating lead or breathing, in the form of fumes or dust. Until 1977, lead was used in house paints. In older buildings there is usually a lot of lead paint. Peeling or cracked paint in older houses and apartments can be dangerous.

        Some children like the taste of paint chips, and chew on window sills and paint chips. A child may be poisoned by breathing air with lead dust in it. Scraping paint off the walls or vacuuming up paint chips from floors can spread lead dust around the house.

        Thirty-three percent (33%) of the children in Erie County have lead levels that are too high. In Buffalo, almost 65% of children have lead toxicity. The Federal Medicaid Act requires all children to be tested for lead as a part of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT).

        Joint HUD and EPA regulations, effective December 1996, established obligations for ownership and opportunities for lead hazard disclosure. Before a purchaser or tenant is obligated under any contract to buy or rent pre-1978 housing, the owner or agent must provide tenant or buyer with a pamphlet describing lead hazards to children, and disclosing known information about the presence of lead-based paint or lead hazards in the property.

        If you suspect your home has lead-based paint, keep window sills, furniture and carpets free of paint chips and dust. Vacuum and damp mop frequently Wash small children’s hands often, especially before they eat. Small children can get lead-laden dust on their hands and then put their fingers in their mouth . Also, make sure children don’t eat or chew on anything covered with lead paint.

        How do you find out if you or your children are poisoned? The best way to find out is to get a blood test. You can call your doctor or clinic or the Health Department at 858-7672 for more information about testing.

        The Health Department is responsible for investigating violations of lead paint laws. In Buffalo, the phone number is 881-4052.

TENANT TIPS

• Always get a receipt.
  
• Read your lease or written rental agreement.
  
• If you have a month-to-month tenancy, your landlord must give you one full month's notice if he wants to raise your rent or have you move out of the apartment.
  
• If you can't pay your rent, tell your landlord and try to work something out.
  
• If you believe your apartment is unsafe, call the Health or Building Inspector.
  
• Never ignore court papers.

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