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Windham County Sheriff’s Office hires new Program Manager for Windham County Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program

Press Release for Windham County Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/18/2025

Contact:
Elisha Underwood, Program Manager
Windham County Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program
eunderwood@windhamcountyvt.gov (802) 212-1548

Windham County Sheriff’s Office hires new Program Manager for Windham County Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program

Windham County, VT — Windham County, VT Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program, is pleased to introduce Elisha Underwood as their new Program Manager with the Windham County Sheriff’s Office. Underwood has her bachelor’s degree in health promotion and wellness and has worked in community health positions for 14 years. Underwood has experience of working on several statewide programs from their start, seeing them through from the ground up and building capacity to keep them sustained.

Underwood will work under supervision of Program Director Sheriff Mark Anderson, Fiscal Officer Jessica Perron-Hall, and Program Coordinator Kate Kirkwood who has experience working with several similar HUD projects and will provide support and consultation. The next 2-3 years will be spent building a program with pipelines of property owners and contractors so that we can start renovating and abating properties in all 23 towns in Windham County. The program focuses on the following three initiatives:

Identifying Lead Hazards: Working with the Vermont Asbestos and Lead Program, the initiative will identify families residing in properties with lead paint and dust hazards, which can cause childhood lead poisoning.
Supporting Property Owners and Occupants: The program will provide resources and guidance to help property owners and tenants understand and mitigate lead hazards in their homes, creating healthier living environments.
Training and Certification for Contractors: With free training provided by this grant, local contractors, housing providers, maintenance staff, and DIY renovators will have the opportunity to become certified in essential lead safety practices. Certification programs will include the Vermont Renovation, Repair, Painting and Maintenance (RRPM) certification and Lead Abatement certifications for contractors, supervisors, and workers.
This initiative aligns with HUD’s mission to protect public health, especially in communities where older housing poses a greater risk of lead exposure. “Thanks to the commitment of Windham County’s leaders, and several towns who wrote support letters, this program will not only address immediate safety needs but also foster long-term health and economic growth,” Anderson said. One study has shown the impact of reduction of lead in communities is responsible for reduced homicide and other crimes in the US. Further, another study found an increase in lead exposure in juvenile males led to an increase in detentions and suspensions. The program’s longer-term impact is expected to boost local employment opportunities, support workforce development, increase property values, and, most importantly, create safer homes for the community’s children.

For more information about the program and upcoming training opportunities please visit https://lead.windhamcountyvt.gov/ or contact Elisha Underwood at eunderwood@windhamcountyvt.gov or call (802) 212-1548.

About the Windham County Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program
The Windham County Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Capacity Building Program is dedicated to improving health and safety conditions in homes throughout Windham County, Vermont. Through funding from HUD, the program aims to reduce childhood lead poisoning, support property owners in managing lead hazards, and strengthen the local workforce through specialized training and certification programs.