Stewards of Affordable Housing
for the Future

Use of Weatherization Program Funds to Benefit Residents of Multifamily Housing

Jeanne Engel from the Clinton Climate Initiative and SAHF's own Stephen Glatter comment on efforts by states to make multifamily weatherization a priority. Many low-income households, including the elderly, disabled, and families with children, live in multifamily housing, but Weatherization Assistance Program dollars have been slow to reach their homes. As states struggle to spend $5 billion in allocated Weatherization Assistance funds, multifamily projects represent a large untapped market. Click here to read their July 2010 paper.
 

Dept. of Energy Announces New Regulations to Allow Use of Weatherization Funds in Affordable Housing

On January 25, 2010, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a new regulation in the Federal Register amending the eligibility provisions applicable to multi-unit buildings under the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). SAHF submitted comments in July 2009 which urged DOE to abolish many of the barriers that historically prevented the effective weatherization of multifamily housing. DOE directly responded to SAHF’s comments in the new regulation, adopting some suggestions and highlighting others. Click here to read SAHF's summary of the new regulations and here to read the new regulation in the Federal Register.

SAHF is a National Housing Conference 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award Finalist

For SAHF's role in reminding the industry of the importance of upgrading the existing privately owned, federally assisted multifamily housing stock to be more energy efficient, NHC Member Partner Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF) was named as a NHC 2009 “Pioneering Housing Strategies” Award finalist. NHC featured SAHF's project and program submission on its "Open House" Blog with its new topic, “Pioneering Housing Strategies: NHC Members Making a Difference in Local Communities.”

Preservation

On March 24, 2010 the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity hosted a hearing on HR 4868, Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2010. Click here to read SAHF's written testimony submitted for the record. For a summary of HR 4868, click here. 
 

Energy Efficiency and Affordable Housing Update

Twenty seven SAHF member properties were awareded grants to energy retrofit their properties under the $250 million dollar Green Retrofit Program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

SAHF drafted a review of research conducted that demonstrates the impact green retrofitting of multifamily properties has on local economies, particularly on employment. Read review.

SAHF created a utility allowance table for Project-Based Section 8 comparing tenant versus owner paid rules governing utility allowances. Click here to view the chart.
 

SAHF Submits Comments to HUD on the Reinvention of the Section 202 Program

In response to questions raised at HUD's March 24 stakeholders' meeting on the Section 202 program, SAHF and the American Association for Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) submitted written comments on how best to reform the Section 202 program. Click here to read the letter.

SAHF and AAHSA are working together to design a practical policy solution to providing affordable housing for low-income elderly with a supportive services network that allows residents to 'age in place'. Read the white paper.