On the second floor of a multi-family house in Central Falls in early February, Henry Severino, a construction specialist with Rhode Island Housing, was focused on doors. The damage was obvious: paint chipping off the frames, layers of old paint peeking through after years of wear and tear. “Let’s replace these doors because the kid […]
Renters at Risk
Posted inHealth, Housing, Local
To prevent lead poisoning, Central Falls is turning up the heat on landlords
Property owners filtered into the multi-purpose room in the Central Falls public works building on a hot September night, settling into plastic chairs. Attorneys for the city printed off dockets, stacked up manila case files, and set up a tape recorder, all in preparation for the monthly meeting of municipal housing court. Many of the […]
Posted inHealth, Housing, Local
RI landlords are required to ensure their units are safe from lead paint. But who checks?
An investigation by the Public’s Radio found landlords rarely face consequences for failing to comply with state laws meant to protect children from exposure to lead paint.
Posted inHealth, Housing, Local
Concerned about lead paint in your home? Here are some places to look for help.
Most of the housing stock in Rhode Island was built before 1978, which means it likely contains lead-based paint. That’s dangerous for children, who can experience life–long consequences if they’re exposed to lead paint. Our series Renters at Risk explores what this means to Rhode Islanders. Getting rid of lead paint entirely is expensive. Instead, […]