The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced more than $100 million in awards for energy efficiency and climate resilience upgrades at affordable housing communities, including at properties operated by LeadingAge housing provider members. The $103.4 million allows properties to significantly renovate 1,500 affordable housing units across 16 HUD-assisted Multifamily Housing communities; the properties will undergo rehab to achieve zero energy and climate resilience.

The “Leading Edge” awards are the second round of funding made through HUD’s new Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), which HUD establish earlier this year based on input from LeadingAge and others. Several of the 16 properties receiving awards in this round are owned or operated by LeadingAge members.

Much of the affordable housing stock is vulnerable to climate risks, and lower income communities—especially older adults—are more susceptible to the impacts of natural disasters. According to HUD’s press release, the investments under the GRRP advance the Biden Administration’s environmental justice agenda in alignment with the Justice40 Initiative, which targets federal investments to communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution.

LeadingAge congratulates the awardees and will continue to work with members to apply for green and energy efficient funding!

LeadingAge Members-Only Call on the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program: October 23, 12:30 p.m. ET

LeadingAge will be joined by GRRP award recipients, HUD staff, and GRRP application consultants on our October 23 call. It is part of LeadingAge’s regular Housing Network call series and will be recorded.

Any LeadingAge member is welcome to join our Housing Network calls. Reach out to Linda (lcouch@leadingage.org) or Juliana (jbilowich@leadingage.org) to join.

Applying for Green and Resilient Retrofit Funding

Additional funding rounds for energy and water efficiency projects, as well as climate resilience upgrades, are available through the GRRP through 2023 and 2024. Free energy benchmarking assistance is also available to HUD-assisted Multifamily Housing properties, whether or not they are applying for the GRRP funding.

Property owners are encouraged to continue to submit applications for grant awards or loans in any of the three categories. HUD is accepting applications under one category each month for the duration of funding availability.

HUD expects to announce awards regularly throughout 2023 and 2024, including awards under the Comprehensive category in the coming weeks.