The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced nearly $67 million in new grant and loan awards for 12 properties under its Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP). This initiative, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aims to enhance energy efficiency and climate resilience in low-income housing.
Assistant Secretary for Housing Julia R. Gordon and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Ethan Handelman revealed the new awards at Washington Park apartments in Cincinnati, OH. The property received a $2.2 million surplus cash loan award from HUD for energy efficiency upgrades benefiting 37 homes.
“At HUD, we work to deliver on President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, investing millions more to ensure the families that we serve live in homes that are healthier,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “These investments will reduce costs and make homes healthier, cheaper to operate, and climate resilient.”
“Today’s announcement underscores the keen appetite by owners of assisted housing to increase energy efficiency and climate resilience measures across the country,” said Assistant Secretary Gordon.
John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, stated: “Today’s awards from the Department of Housing and Urban Development will boost the quality of life for thousands of moderate- and low-income American families by making their homes safer and more comfortable.”
The funding aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct 40 percent of certain federal investment benefits to disadvantaged communities. The GRRP supports renovations that reduce carbon emissions and protect homes during extreme weather events while advancing affordable housing goals.
The third set of awards under GRRP's Leading Edge category requires property owners to achieve high-performance green certifications. These certifications recognize significant property upgrades such as solar panels, wind turbines, impact-resistant roofing, and other energy efficiency improvements.
“The enhancements being made to properties using GRRP funding will make the homes of low-income families safer, more efficient, and healthier to live in,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Handelman.
The 12 properties receiving Leading Edge awards participate in HUD's Section 8 project-based rental assistance program for low-income individuals and families. Properties range from those with fewer than 50 units to those with over 200 units.
President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act established the GRRP in 2022 as a significant climate investment aimed at improving energy efficiency and resiliency in HUD-assisted rental portfolios.
As of May 21, 2024, GRRP has awarded funding to 122 properties encompassing over 14,000 rental homes across 36 states and the District of Columbia. Total funding has exceeded $610 million in grants and loans.
GRRP funds are used for various improvements including insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, heat-resistant roofs, resilient roofing against natural hazards like floods or strong winds, among others. More than 800 properties have also signed up for HUD’s free energy and water benchmarking service funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
GRRP offers multiple funding options: Elements provides funds for projects already undergoing recapitalization; Leading Edge supports ambitious retrofit activities; Comprehensive targets properties needing extensive climate resilience upgrades regardless of prior experience.
