In January, the House of Representatives passed a landmark green affordable housing bill by a wide bipartisan margin. The “HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007” (H.R. 3524) provides $800 million annually from 2008-2013 for mixed-income communities that incorporate Green Communities Criteria. This is the first time the House has passed a bill authorizing holistic environmental principles in a major housing program. View segments of the floor debate.

The bill requires new HOPE VI revitalization  projects to meet the Green Communities Criteria for residential construction. It also gives more points in the HOPE VI selection process for greater compliance with Green Communities or other green rating systems chosen by the Secretary of HUD. For non-residential buildings, the bill requires the HUD Secretary to choose an appropriate green rating system. The bill provides funding for technical assistance to ensure developments can meet the green requirements cost effectively.

The green building provisions in the bill were championed by House HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Olver (D-MA). A number of leading House members spoke strongly in favor of the Green Communities Criteria on the House floor during the vote. A remarkably broad-based coalition of governors, mayors, trade associations, environmental organizations, public health groups, affordable housing advocates and green building leaders actively advocated for the green provisions in the bill (support letter). Enterprise thanks all these partners for their efforts.

The historic vote marks a major victory for all advocates for healthier, more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable homes for low-income people. The next step is the Senate, where the coalition is building strong bipartisan support.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper recently announced that all affordable housing developments receiving city funds will be required to meet the Green Communities Criteria starting in 2010. This commitment will drive the creation of 350 new green affordable rental and for-sale homes throughout the Denver metro area on an annual basis. The city will encourage affordable housing developers to meet the criteria starting this year. As part of the effort, Enterprise and the Denver Office of Economic Development will deliver training and provide other support to developers starting this March.

“In Denver’s climate, commercial and residential buildings use a significant amount of energy, making them a leading contributor of greenhouse gasses,” said Michele Weingarden, director of Greenprint Denver, Mayor John Hickenlooper’s comprehensive sustainability initiative. “Green Communities will go a long way toward conserving our use of energy resources, reducing air pollution and addressing our city’s carbon footprint.”

The announcement was made at a groundbreaking for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Renaissance Riverfront Lofts project. Read more.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin joined Enterprise and other partners to announce a $25.5 million loan fund to enable affordable housing developers to acquire sites for green affordable development throughout the city. The Atlanta Acquisition Pool is a partnership of Enterprise, the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Renewal Community, Wachovia Corp., Living Cities, SunTrust Bank and The Home Depot Foundation. Enterprise committed $1 million to the Fund through the Enterprise Terwilliger Fund and will manage the pool.

“It is important that we continue our efforts to provide quality affordable homeownership opportunities for the thousands of current and future residents who will call Atlanta home by 2009,” Mayor Franklin said. “This pool of money can help qualified affordable housing developers meet the demand for housing by the average worker without sacrificing quality construction or profit margins.”

Critical funding to ensure pool-supported projects are environmental sustainable comes from the Home Depot Foundation. The foundation will provide $600,000 in grant funds over three years to support technical assistance and “early predevelopment loans” to enable organizations accessing the pool to ensure their projects are healthy, energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.  Enterprise has partnered with Southface to consult with pool borrowers to explore integrating green building methods and materials into the sites and construction process. 

“The Home Depot Foundation is pleased to play a role in launching the largest private commitment to affordable housing development in Atlanta’s history, and to supporting the greening of the fund to ensure the homes

The Home Depot Foundation's 2008 Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly Program competition is now open.  The foundation will provide recognition and funding to five projects each in the categories of homeownership and rental housing. National winners in each category will receive $75,000, runners-up $25,000 and honorable mentions $2,500. 

A panel of green experts will review proposals and recommend the winners to The Home Depot Foundation's Board of Directors.  Awards will be announced September 17, 2008 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with an International Lecture on Sustainability to be attended by mayors from around the world. 

Applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry by March 31, 2008. The Home Depot Foundation will invite 10 organizations in each category (homeownership and rental) to submit full project descriptions. Applicants with questions on how to complete the on-line application may contact Vivian Walker. Applicants with questions about program content may contact Tim Block. Submit an application.

The 2008 RFP for Ohio Green Communities developments will open on February 15, 2008, and applicants can initiate the RFP process at that time. The 2008 goal for Ohio Green Communities is to provide funding for at least four developments that together will produce 200 or more apartments that meet the Green Communities Criteria. Each Ohio Green Communities development is eligible for up to $75,000 in grant funding (no more than $1,500 per affordable apartment to be built) from Enterprise and the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing. Visit the Ohio page on the Green Communities website for more information on the grant application requirements and process.

Evergreen Park is the rehabilitation of a 100-unit public housing community that provides services to people with disabilities. The project includes extensive green site improvements, remediation of mold and other environmental hazards and a deep commitment to energy efficiency. In developing the project, the Potsdam Housing Authority made great efforts to minimize disruption to residents during rehabilitation.

Investing in the Future: Innovative Transactions in Affordable Housing and Community Development
February 21 - 22, 2008, Miami

Housing and community leaders from across the country will share the opportunities presented by an emerging market transformation as the public and private sectors begin to recognize the need for innovative and sustainable practices in affordable housing and community development. Visit IPED for more information and to register.

Wall Street Journal: High Design for Low-Income Housing
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Program to Help Finance Affordable Housing in Atlanta
Denver Post: Work Begins on Affordable Housing Project"