October 20, 2023 Washington, DC — Following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $103.4 million in new loans and grants for providers participating in the agency’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including affordable housing for low income older adults, applauds the Biden Administration’s progress in improving the climate resilience of residents nationwide living in federally assisted communities for seniors with low incomes.
The awards will be used to significantly renovate the homes of 1,500 low income households to be zero energy and climate resilient at 16 HUD-Assisted Multifamily Housing properties, which includes LeadingAge member-operated affordable housing communities.
This is the second round of funding (dubbed “Leading Edge”) for the GRRP program. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge in May announced that more than $800 million would fund the GRRP, speaking at LeadingAge member CSI Support & Development’s housing community in Warren, MI.
Established through the Inflation Reduction Act, the program provides money for direct loans and grants to fund projects in HUD-assisted multifamily housing communities that improve energy or water efficiency, enhance indoor air quality or sustainability, implement the use of zero-emission electricity generation, low-emission building materials or processes, energy storage, or building electrification strategies, or address climate resilience.
“Our affordable housing provider members understand that threats of climate change and natural disasters disproportionately impact low-income older adults living in affordable housing,” says Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge. “These funds will allow our members to make energy-saving renovations in order to cut energy waste down to zero, increase resilience to extreme weather events worsened by climate change, and lower costs for families.”
LeadingAge’s advocacy throughout 2022 and 2023 prioritized collaborations with HUD during the GRRP development. Many of the association’s proposals are incorporated into the final program.
“The GRRP is critical to preserving our existing housing supply. Providers are eager to make much-needed property upgrades that will help to ensure buildings operate efficiently,” said Linda Couch, vice president, housing and aging services policy, adding, “As demand for more affordable homes for low-income older adults continues to grow, now more than ever, we need to ensure that our nation’s affordable housing communities are supported. Today’s news is a step in the right direction.”
