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Get Involved! Upcoming Lead-Free NJ Meetings/Events

August 18 Water Advocacy Committee

August 20 Housing Policy Committee

August 26 LRAP Agency Peer Discussion

September TBD Health Committee

September TBD Advocacy Coordinating Committee

October 17 Annual Trenton Lead Awareness Day & Community BBQ

Contact cbolinger@njfuture.org to join a committee or sign-up here.

Funding Opportunities

Due 7/31/26: NJ FamilyCare Housing Supports Program Provider Capacity Expansion

To build and expand the capacity of nonprofit organizations to deliver NJ FamilyCare Housing Supports services, increasing access to pre-tenancy, move-in, and tenancy sustaining services for NJ FamilyCare members experiencing homelessness or housing instability. RFP Guidelines: https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/forms/docs/njfamilycareguidelines.pdf

Due 8/31/26: HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program

Application website: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362367

Contact: Damian Slaughter (202) 725-5749, olhchh.nofa@hud.gov

Due 8/31/26: HUD Healthy Homes Production Grant Program

Application website: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362368

Contact: Sacsheen S. Scott, (202) 402-4370, olhchh.nofa@hud.gov

Due 8/31/26: HUD Older Adults Home Modification Program:

Application website: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362369

Contact: Dr. Taneka Blue, (202) 402-6846, olhchh.nofa@hud.gov

Due 7/29/26: Municipal Grant Opportunity: Advancing Public Health Through Comprehensive Master Planning

Application information: https://plan4healthnj.org/call-for-expression-of-interest/

Due 9/30/26 School Lead Filters Program for Filtered Bottle-Filling Stations and Filtered Faucets

Every NJ public school district is eligible to receive an allocation. More information here: https://www.nj.gov/education/facilities/grants/slfg/. Contact your school administrator and Board of Education to request that they apply for this funding to remediate any lead found. Use our outreach template.

Lead in the SFY27 Budget

The State of New Jersey budget for fiscal year 2027 was published in June. You can review the full budget here. Lead exposure prevention funding in the budget includes:

NJ Department of Education

$500,000 state-funded grants-in-aid for School Lead Filters: Continuation of funding for schools to purchase and install point-of-use water filters.

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

$500,000 state-funded grants-in-aid for Drinking Water Filter Grant Program: To establish a grant program to support the distribution of NSF/ANSI Standard 53-certified point-of-use drinking water filters for homes known or suspected to have elevated lead levels in drinking water.

NJ Department of Health

$1 million federal revenue for Federal Lead Abatement Program
$730,000 federal revenue for New Jersey Childhood Lead

NJ Department of Community Affairs

Lead paint remediation:

$4.4 million from US Department of Housing and Urban Development for Lead Hazard Reduction
$2 million state-funded grants-in-aid for Single Family Home Lead Hazard Remediation Fund
$2.5 million state-funded grants-in-aid for Lead-Safe Home Renovation Pilot Program
$1.95 million state-funded grantes-in-aid for Lead Programs (P.L.2021, c.182)

Advocacy in Action

In June, La Casa de Don Pedro hosted NJ Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Suárez, Assistant Commissioner Winter, Senator Ruiz, LRAP agencies Clinton Hill Community Action, Ironbound Community Corporation, Isles, Green and Health Homes Initiative, for a meeting and LRAP project site tour to discuss expanding and improving lead paint remediation in New Jersey.

Congratulations to Lead-Free NJ Community Hub Leaders Shereyl Snider (East Trenton Collaborative) and Shanikwa Lemon (Paterson Alliance) on their appointment to the NJ DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Council! Lead-Free NJ Water Advocacy Committee Chair Rachel Dawn Davis is also a member of the council. EJAC provides a valuable forum for discussions about integrating Environmental Justice into DEP’s programs, policies, and activities.

In June, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative & The Cooperative hosted the NJ Convening on Healthy Homes & Lead Poisoning Prevention. Check out the presentation materials here.

In June, Isles hosted Senator Zwicker, Greater Mercer Public Health Partnership, and Hamilton Health Department to discuss the need for sustainable lead remediation funding. Senator Zwicker sponsored Budget Resolution 276, which would fully fund the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund. Although the resolution was not included in the final state budget, we are grateful for the advocacy and awareness-building, which will continue into the future.

Learning Opportunities

Prevent Lead Exposure from
Drinking Water Coverage of NSF/ANSI-Certified Filters Under New Jersey’s Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver

New white paper published! Read it here.

Filter Your Tap is a public education initiative created to help New Jersey residents, especially renters, understand how to use NSF/ANSI-certified water filters to reduce lead exposure from drinking water. Download resources in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Arabic and Bengali at www.leadfreenj.org/filteryourtap

EPA Tools & Resources Webinar: Designing & Implementing Effective Participatory Science Projects - Aug 19, 2026 03:00 PM - Register here.

Prematurity Prevention Initiative's Summer Speaker Series - July 29, August 12 & 26, September 9 & 23 - Register here.

NJ Planning, Zoning & Code Institute: Navigating NJ Municipal Systems - September 3 & 17, October 8 & 23 - Register here.

Community Hub Spotlight

Princeton University documentary film students collaborated with East Trenton Collaborative, Isles, Lead-Free NJ, and New Jersey Future to create short films about the community impact of lead exposure and advocacy to prevent lead exposure in Trenton. Watch the films! To find out more about this film class visit: www.thetrentonproject.com

La Vida Contaminada · a short film by Raphaela Gold and Stella Szostak

Invisible Toxins, Invisible Money · a short film by Hahyeon Kim and Loreta Quarmine

Bloodlines · a short film by Synai Ferrell and Payge Neals

Taking The Lead - a short film by Ella Kowal and Clara Schneider

The HUUB in Orange published a community booklet to provide lead exposure prevention education and resources for Orange community members. This project was spearheaded by Lavon Boykins.

Lead Aware Community Care: Helping Our Community Stay Informed and Lead-Aware

Public Comment Opportunities

Rural Health Transformation in South Jersey: Listening Sessions

Learn more here: https://rand.camden.rutgers.edu/nj-rht/

The state is seeking public input on the progress of New Jersey’s 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration.

Written comments or questions will be accepted by email to DMAHS.CMWcomments@dhs.nj.gov by August 24, 2026.

Lead in the News

Water

Housing

Soil

EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan to Address Contamination on Properties at the Former Kil-Tone Co. Superfund Site Floodplain in Vineland, New Jersey

Screening

Health

International

Lead-contaminated paint, water, and soil, and other sources disproportionately affects young children, causing serious medical and behavioral issues into adulthood, and low-income communities and/or communities of color are most at risk, due to systemic inequities. However, these issues can be prevented by targeting the sources of lead. Working together as Lead-Free NJ, an inclusive and equitable collaborative focused on removing lead from New Jersey’s environment, we can address this complex problem on a larger scale than any individual or organization can alone. The time is now to demand action and organize for state-wide lead remediation in every home, childcare facility, school, and water system.

Staff Contacts: Heather Gable Storey, program manager (609) 262-3646 (direct), hstorey@njfuture.org; Cassie Bolinger, program coordinator, 609-262-3541 (direct), cbolinger@njfuture.org.

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New Jersey Future is a member of Lead-Free NJ, and serves as the “backbone” staff for the collaborative. NJF staff coordinate the day-to-day activities of each collaborative in support of its shared purpose.

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