The House Financial Services Committee passed the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 2534) to reauthorize and strengthen the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program. The bill would require new HOPE VI developments to meet Green Communities Criteria for residential buildings and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for New Construction standards for related commercial buildings, or substantially similar criteria. A wide ranging coalition of leading housing, health and environmental organizations went on record to support the green provisions in the bill, attesting to the growing diversity of support for green affordable homes and communities. Many thanks to the American Public Health Association; Atlanta Housing Authority; Council of Large Public Housing Agencies; District of Columbia Housing Authority; Housing Assistance Council; Local Initiatives Support Corporation; McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc.; National Center for Healthy Housing; National Housing Conference; National Low Income Housing Coalition; Natural Resources Defense Council; and U.S. Green Building Council.
Enterprise Report Showcases State Leadership on Green Affordable
For the third year in a row, Enterprise’s annual comprehensive analysis of every state’s policies to encourage environmentally sustainable housing through their Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs shows a growing commitment by the states to greener affordable homes. Enterprise is working with state housing agencies to develop and implement policies through their Housing Credit and other programs to create green affordable homes and communities on a cost effective basis. This year’s report, by James Tassos, includes a new section summarizing some of the approaches states are taking to ensuring that the health, economic and environmental benefits of sustainable development are achieved and maintained for the longterm. View the analysis.
Enterprise Comments on Utility Policies for Affordable Housing
Enterprise submitted a letter to the Internal Revenue Service supporting IRS-proposed regulations to provide for more accurate tenant “utility allowances” in affordable rental properties assisted by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and urged the Service and Treasury Department to expedite the adoption of the proposed regulations with additional flexibility. More accurate utility allowances would encourage affordable housing developers/owners to make their properties more energy efficient.
New Green Communities Website Launches
The Green Communities website has been substantially redesigned and expanded to provide more in-depth information on green affordable housing. Among the notable new features are more extensive case studies of Green Communities projects. Enterprise is especially proud to be partnering with Building Green to highlight Green Communities projects through the High Performance Buildings Database, a research database sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and accessible from the new Green Communities homepage. The database provides case studies of projects ranging from homes and commercial interiors to large buildings and even whole campuses and neighborhoods. The revamped Green Communities website also provides a virtual tour of Trolley Square, a signature Green Communities development by Homeowners’s Rehabilitation, Inc. in Cambridge, MA
Innovative Solutions in Portland, Ore.
Six for-sale townhomes developed by REACH Community Development, Inc. in Portland, Ore., are noteworthy for their innovative solutions to storm water management, deep commitment to resource and materials conservation and certification under Green Communities, the Earth Advantage program and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes pilot. View profile.
Celebrating 25 Years at the Community Conference in Cleveland
This year Enterprise is celebrating 25 Years in the community. Join hundreds of community development professionals at the Enterprise Community Conference, Nov. 14 - 16, at the beautiful Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Conference highlights include a Green Communities workshop track featuring cutting edge sustainable development topics, a Green Communities networking reception and a special plenary session on greener homes and communities for low-income people. Register and learn more about Enterprise's environmental commitment through this year's conference.
Enterprise Seeks Candidates to Join Green Communities
Team Enterprise is building on the success of Green Communities and expanding our commitment to healthier, more efficient affordable housing and community revitalization. With new products, resources and initiatives under development, we are seeking highly motivated people with interdisciplinary expertise and a deep commitment to social and environmental justice to join us. If you are interested in helping to lead Enterprise’s efforts to make all affordable housing in the United States environmentally sustainable, please go to our career opportunities page for more details.
Trees Grant Funds Available
Enterprise, in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, now offers affordable housing developers the opportunity for grant funding to strategically incorporate trees into their Green Communities site plans. Applications are reviewed the first week of every month and decisions are made by the end of that month.
