NJ Households Should Access State Grants to Fix Lead Paint by December 2026, and Advocate for Future Funding
By Cassie Bolinger, Lead-Free NJ
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) is October 19-25, 2025. Take a moment this week to consider if your home is lead-safe.
Is your home among 2.2 million in NJ that may have lead paint?
Lead is so toxic that an amount as small as 3 grains of sugar can harm a child’s development. The effects of lead exposure can include neurological damage, increased blood pressure, kidney damage, fertility problems in adults, and preeclampsia during pregnancy. Lead-based paint, a major source of lead exposure, is still a serious problem. Older homes built before 1978, which number over 2.2 million in New Jersey [1], may contain lead paint. When lead paint begins to chip, flake, or peel, even if it’s hidden under layers of non-lead paint, it can create poisonous lead dust and paint chips that are easily ingested by anyone living in the home, but especially by young children who spend time crawling or playing on the floor.
Landlords and tenants: do you have a lead-safe certificate, required by NJ law?
New Jersey state law requires that rental housing built before 1978 be inspected by municipal staff or a certified lead evaluation contractor for lead paint hazards every three years. If lead paint hazards are found, the landlord must fix them. It’s absolutely essential that proper procedures for lead paint repair are followed. If lead paint is disturbed, the poisonous lead dust can travel throughout the home – remember that lead the size of 3 grains of sugar is enough for concern – creating an even greater hazard than you started with. Always hire a lead-safe certified professional as required by the US EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule.
Access state grants to fix lead paint issues
Lead paint is a serious issue, and addressing it can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, New Jersey offers state grants to eligible households to remediate or abate lead paint using certified professionals. You can apply directly on the NJ Department of Community Affairs’ website, or contact the community organization that administers the program in your county. Don’t wait a minute longer to apply. The bulk of these funds, allocated through the America Rescue Plan Act, will expire at the end of 2026.
Future funding is in jeopardy
You didn’t put lead paint in your home, so why should you pay thousands of dollars to address this poison lurking in your walls? New Jersey has invested historic amounts in lead paint remediation grants, but the need still outweighs the funding. If the program reverts to pre-American Rescue Plan Act funding levels, lead paint remediation programs throughout the state could be shut down, eliminating jobs and resources for lead-affected families. Educate your state legislator on the importance of lead paint remediation funding as they make difficult decisions for next year’s state budget.
Stay engaged with updates and advocacy efforts by joining Lead-Free NJ, a statewide collaborative working on lead poisoning prevention: www.LeadFreeNJ.org
[1] U.S. Census (2023), American Community Survey 1-Year Detailed Subject Table, State of New Jersey, “Year Structure Built.” data.census.gov