Published:
Yonkers Property Owner Shares How County Assistance Helped Make Her Home Safer for Her Children
Watch the News Conference Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAI96NH60FY
(Yonkers, NY) – During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins is highlighting how the County’s Lead Safe Westchester program is helping families address lead hazards in their homes, including a Yonkers mother who received nearly $139,000 in assistance to complete critical repairs to her property.
The County’s Department of Planning provided $136,041 in funding for lead hazard remediation and $2,893 for inspections at a single-family home in Yonkers. Built in 1905, the home is occupied by a family of four, including two young children. The project, completed in August 2026, addressed deteriorating lead-based paint throughout the property, helping reduce the family’s risk of lead exposure.
The work followed an inspection that identified 339 deteriorated surfaces containing lead-based paint. Repairs included replacing 41 windows, stabilizing paint on 21 additional windows and addressing lead hazards on doors, stairways, walls, ceilings and other interior surfaces. The team also completed exterior paint stabilization and specialized cleaning. The family temporarily relocated during the work and returned after the home passed post-remediation dust testing.
Jenkins said: “No family should have to worry that the place they call home could be putting their children’s health at risk. Through Lead Safe Westchester, we’re helping property owners address serious lead hazards that can be difficult and costly to handle on their own. For this Yonkers family, that assistance meant making important repairs and returning to a safer home. We want more residents to know about this program because preventing lead poisoning starts with making sure our homes are safe.”
Westchester County Department of Planning Commissioner Blanca Lopez said: “Lead-based paint continues to be a concern in older homes throughout Westchester, and many property owners may not realize the extent of the hazards until an inspection is completed. Our Lead Safe Westchester team works with eligible residents to identify those hazards, coordinate the necessary repairs and provide financial assistance to complete the work. This Yonkers project shows how the program can help families address serious health and safety concerns while maintaining their homes.”
Yonkers Property Owner Marlaina Headley said: “Thank you to County Executive Jenkins and his team for allowing me to speak today. As a mother of two, the safety of my kids is my highest priority. As a property owner, this priority can be very expensive. The Lead Safe Westchester program funded all lead repairs and inspections needed. Without that financial assistance, covering the cost of this work would have been incredibly difficult. I am very thankful for the help my family received through Lead Safe Westchester. They say it takes a village to raise kids. Knowing that we were not alone trying to make our home safer for the kids means that Westchester County is part of that village. I recommend all property owners to reach out and see if you qualify for this program.”
Lead poisoning is a preventable public health issue that can have serious, long-term effects on children’s health and development. With more than 81% of Westchester County’s housing stock built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned for residential use, identifying and correcting lead hazards remains an important part of protecting residents.
Westchester County has been awarded a new $7.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support lead hazard reduction and other eligible health and safety improvements in homes occupied by low- and moderate-income households over the next four years. Administered by the County Department of Planning, Lead Safe Westchester provides inspections and coordinates repairs through licensed and certified contractors. Owners of single-family and multifamily properties are encouraged to apply, with priority given to units with children younger than 6 and/or pregnant women.
Funding is limited, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility is based on federal income guidelines, and for rental properties, the income of the tenants determines eligibility.
To learn more about Lead Safe Westchester or request an application, visit https://homes.westchestercountyny.gov/lead-safe-westchester, email
