San Francisco to use $21 million from paint settlement for lead‑abatement pilot focused on homes with children

San Francisco officials presented Fixed Lead SF, a new city program that will use funds from a long‑running paint‑manufacturer settlement to reduce lead hazards in residences that house children and expectant mothers.

Ryan Ramos of the Department of the Environment said the city’s settlement share is $21,000,000, to be disbursed over seven years, and that the program will prioritize pre‑1950 housing in ZIP codes the city identified as higher risk, including 94110 (Mission/Bernal Heights), 94112 (Outer Mission) and 94124 (Bayview/Hunters Point). Ramos said the Department of Public Health will lead technical and regulatory aspects while the Department of the Environment will administer the program.

Ramos described a pilot phase that will take referrals from existing DPH lead‑poisoning cases to test program procedures before a broader rollout. The city plans to emphasize mitigation of friction surfaces — windows, double‑hung sashes, built‑in furniture, cabinets and wooden doors — and to inspect outdoor soil for contamination.

Ramos said a third‑party administrator will handle contracting, payments to lead service providers and relocation support for occupants while property owners sign participation agreements with the City. The program team said the approach is intended to facilitate disbursement, add value‑added services and limit the city’s risk.

Karen Yu of the Department of Public Health said prioritization relied on historical poisoning cases, demographics and housing age; she added that program outreach will include schools and child‑serving agencies, though most poisoning occurs before kindergarten age. Commissioners asked whether new census data might change ZIP‑code priorities; Ramos said the team will review updated demographic information and adjust targeting if necessary.

Officials cautioned that the program’s funding will not cover all eligible households and said additional funding would be required to reach more residents. Ramos and DPH staff said they will evaluate pilot results and then consider expansion options.