Healthy Homes Atlanta Programs

The City of Atlanta’s Department of City Planning (DCP) is proud to introduce the Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Program. This initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and aims to protect our community by reducing lead-related hazards in homes across Atlanta, particularly in the Westside Promise Zone (WPZ), through providing free training opportunities for contractors.

The program’s purpose is to expand the pool of contractors working in all trades to be certified to work safely in homes built before 1978. All trade workers or firms performing home rehabilitation/renovation in homes built before 1978 may be at risk of disturbing lead-based paint. The Lead Hazard Training Program covers the cost for the EPA Renovate, Repair, Paint certification course, as well as all other lead-safety courses for contractors that meet the program’s eligibility requirements and service the City of Atlanta.

Lead Hazard Reduction Training Courses offered

• Renovation, Repair, Paint (RRP)
• Lead Inspector
• Lead Risk Assessor
• Lead Abatement Worker
• Lead Abatement Supervisor

The Healthy Homes: Atlanta (HH:A)

The program aims to tackle various environmental health and safety hazards in residential properties. It focuses on improving housing quality for low-income families by identifying and mitigating risks that can lead to chronic illnesses and injuries, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under twelve, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

• Home-hazard assessments will be conducted for eligible residences and will evaluate the presence of hazards such as lead-based paint, mold, carbon monoxide, radon, and other environmental threats. If hazards exist, DGCD and procured vendors will take steps to remediate the hazards up to $10,000 in remediation costs. Wrap Around and referral services will be provided to applicants with unmet needs. This comprehensive approach is designed to improve individual health outcomes and enhance overall community well-being by creating safer, healthier living environments.
• The program also supports public education and outreach to raise awareness about housing-related health hazards and promote preventive or corrective measures. Additionally, the program fosters collaboration among health and housing departments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to maximize the impact of its interventions.

Section 106 Compliance

What Is Section 106?

The Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Because federal funding is used, every assisted project is subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as part of HUD's environmental review process.

Section 106 is a federal review process that requires federal agencies and entities carrying out federally funded programs on their behalf to consider how a project may affect historic properties before approving work.

The purpose of the review is to ensure that public health improvements, such as lead hazard reduction, are carried out while also considering the preservation of Atlanta's historic buildings, neighborhoods, and archaeological resources.

Section 106 does not prevent projects from moving forward. Instead, it helps identify appropriate treatment measures and, when necessary, ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to historic properties.

How Does the Section 106 Review Process Work in City of Atlanta?

To streamline the Section 106 review process, the City of Atlanta entered into a Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in January 2010.

The PA establishes agreed-upon review procedures that allow the City to complete many aspects of the Section 106 review internally, while ensuring compliance with federal historic preservation requirements. Projects are reviewed in accordance with the PA, and consultation with the SHPO is conducted when required.

• Programmatic Agreement (PDF) (Coming)
• Section 106 Review Process Flowchart (Coming)

Submission Requirements (for subrecipients/applicants)

To facilitate the Section 106 review process, applicants or subrecipients should submit sufficient information for the City to evaluate the proposed undertaking and its potential effects on historic properties. Depending on the scope of work, the following information may be required:

1. Required Forms

The following forms must be completed and submitted:

• City of Atlanta HUD NEPA Environmental Review Checklist
• Request for Section 106 Review under the National Historic Preservation Act

These forms provide the basic project information needed to begin the Section 106 review.

2. Supporting Documentation

The following supporting documentation may be required, as applicable to the proposed undertaking.

Existing Conditions
Provide clear, color photographs documenting the existing conditions of the property, including:

• All exterior elevations
• Streetscape and surrounding context
• Interior areas affected by the proposed work (if applicable)

Photographs should be:

• Clearly labeled
• Dated (if possible)
• Keyed to a site plan, aerial image, or photo location map indicating the direction each photograph was taken

3. Lead Hazard Reduction Project Documentation

Provide documentation sufficient for the Preservation Professional to evaluate the proposed undertaking, as applicable, including:

• Lead inspection or lead risk assessment report
• Proposed lead hazard reduction treatment plan or scope of work
• Construction drawings, plans, or specifications (if available)
• Product specifications for proposed replacement materials (e.g., windows, doors, siding, trim, porches, or other character-defining features), when applicable
• Architectural renderings, elevations, or details, if available
• Any additional documentation necessary to evaluate the proposed work and its potential effects on historic properties

4. Additional Information

The Preservation Professional may request additional information or documentation as needed to complete the Section 106 review.

Public Participation

Public participation is an important part of the City of Atlanta's Section 106 review process. The City provides opportunities for the public to learn about certain HUD-assisted projects and share comments when appropriate, in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, HUD environmental review requirements (24 CFR Part 58), and the City's Programmatic Agreement.

The level of public participation depends on the nature of the proposed project and its potential to affect historic properties. The City will determine the appropriate public involvement process based on the project and applicable federal requirements.