New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced $110,000 in funding to support the Syracuse Lead Freedom House, a new temporary housing facility designed to help families affected by lead poisoning and lead hazard remediation.
The funding, announced Tuesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, will support operations at the lead-safe home for the next three years. The project was developed by A Tiny Home for Good and will be operated in partnership with Families for Lead Freedom Now, with support from Legal Services of Central New York.
Located on South Avenue in Syracuse, the Lead Freedom House features two fully furnished three-bedroom units that will provide rent-free temporary housing for families displaced while lead hazards are removed from their homes or whose children require a lead-safe environment during treatment for lead poisoning.
In addition to housing, families will receive case management and assistance accessing health care, education, transportation, and other support services.
“We cannot leave families to fight lead poisoning alone,” James said. “The Syracuse Lead Freedom House will give families a safe place to stay while their homes are made safer and their children recover.”
The funding comes from a January settlement between the Attorney General’s Office and Dollar Tree. The company paid more than $559,000 after an investigation found lead-contaminated children’s food remained on sale at dozens of New York stores following a nationwide recall. State officials said a portion of those funds is being directed toward lead poisoning prevention and response efforts.
Lead poisoning continues to be a significant public health concern in Syracuse, where more than 80% of the housing stock was built before lead-based paint was banned. According to the Attorney General’s Office, 520 children in Onondaga County had elevated blood lead levels in 2024, with 90% of those cases occurring in Syracuse.
Families for Lead Freedom Now will help identify families in need of temporary housing, with priority given to those with children undergoing treatment for lead poisoning. A Tiny Home for Good will provide case management services, while Legal Services of Central New York will help protect families’ rights during the remediation process.
The project is the latest in a series of actions by the Attorney General’s Office aimed at addressing lead hazards and childhood lead poisoning across New York.
