The Fresno Housing Alliance, a coalition of faith-based groups and other organizations, received a $50,000 grant from the California Endowment to help develop "healthy homes" in Fresno.

The Healthy Homes program was started by Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, or FIRM, to help low-income families, many of them refugees, said David Mendoza, a representative of the housing alliance.

The grant will help train contractors and develop programs to eradicate lead paint, mold and moisture, pests, pesticides and other toxics from houses in poorer neighborhoods. The alliance often works with landlords and tenants.