During an audience-submitted Q-and-A session, Carson said public-private initiatives at the local level are essential to improving public assistance.

Young says HUD already oversees lead paint remediation in homes paid for with federal assistance.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's inspector general's office examined the Evansville Housing Authority's handling of improvements to 559 apartments to address maintenance problems.

The city released a statement Thursday that placed blame on the federal government.

Many East Chicago residents are concerned demolition will spread contaminated dust.

Carson says the handling of the situation could serve as a model for other contaminated public housing.

The Superfund site includes a now-empty public housing complex, which is the subject of a contentious demolition plan.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development held a hearing Monday about a plan to demolish the lead-contaminated West Calumet Housing Complex.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson was answering a question from U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.

The new policy requires public housing properties to go smoke-free. Thirty properties in Indiana will be affected.