The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week awarded $541,179  in grants to children and families living in North Carolina from health and safety hazards in their homes.  The grants will support efforts to control asthma and allergy triggers such as mold, moisture, mitigate safety hazards in homes, and improve energy efficiency. The grant funding announced this week is part of $18 million HUD is awarding nationwide to clean up health hazards.  The funding will go to cities, counties, states and universities to eliminate dangerous health and other safety hazards in thousands of privately-owned, low-income housing units.