Lead program faces delays and slow spending, per report
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Cleveland is still seeing persistently high rates of childhood lead poisoning six years after passing a landmark lead-safe housing law.
Why it matters: Lead poisoning in Cleveland children remains nearly four times the national average, per Cleveland Clinic, and can result in irreversible cognitive and behavioral damage.
The big picture: Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer — co-chair of the city's Lead Safe Advisory Board — argues in a new report that Cleveland's approach needs a reset.
- She says resources have spread too thin and legislative or administrative tweaks are required to direct spending toward the homes, neighborhoods and housing components most likely to expose kids to lead.
Catch up quick: Maurer rose to prominence through her work with Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing, the grassroots group that successfully pushed City Council to pass the 2019 Lead Safe law.
Friction point: Despite building a public-private system to certify and remediate rental homes, Maurer says the program is hamstrung by administrative delays, tech hurdles and sluggish spending.
- The city has spent less than 25% of federal HUD funds and less than 10% of state dollars dedicated to lead remediation as of spring 2025, according to her report.
What they're saying: Lead-safe housing "is at a crossroads," Maurer writes.
- "We can keep doing what we are doing and hope we make enough of a dent ... Or we can take needed steps to simplify the program, focus our resources, and clearly coordinate our leadership and data reporting."
What's next: Maurer says she'll seek buy-in from her colleagues on council and the lead advisory board.
The other side: Council President Blaine Griffin told Cleveland.com that amending the law would be difficult.
- "I'm always open to try and improve the law," he said. "I just want to be clear that this is very, very sensitive stuff, and this is tedious work."
Go deeper: Read Maurer's full report