GREEN MAKES HISTORY: Sweeping Green Housing Bill Advances

Green affordable housing took a huge step forward with the passage of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) Act by the House. The bill will raise the bar on performance and generate billions of dollars in funding for green affordable development in communities.  It builds on lessons learned through the Enterprise Green Communities initiative.  The bill will now go to the Senate for a vote.

http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/news/newsletters/archives/
aug_2008_news.asp  

Enterprise Green Communities Publications:

 Sustainable, Affordable, Doable: this report collects firsthand experiences and lessons from participants in eight Green Communities developments.  

http://www.practitionerresources.org/cache/documents/666/66601.pdf

Bringing Home the Benefits of Energy Efficiency to Low-Income Households: this publication makes the case for a national commitment to increase the energy efficiency in affordable housing, especially homes for low-income people.

http://www.practitionerresources.org/cache/documents/663/66381.pdf

Supportive Housing Initiative

This program managed by Enterprise Community aims to protect the
most financially vulnerable Americans through community development.
The initiative’s goal is to create 9,000 homes by 2009 and to support the
individuals who participate in the program.

For more information visit: http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/programs/supportive_housing/
 

State Leadership on Green Affordable Housing 

“Greener Policies, Smarter Plans” is Enterprise’s annual analysis of state
policies to encourage environmentally sustainable housing through states’
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs.  The report includes a section on
summarizing some of the approaches that states are taking to ensure that the
 health, economic and environmental benefits of sustainable development are achieved and maintained for the long term. 

www.practitionerresources.org/cache/documents/654/65431.pdf

Online Senior Housing Locator

A new navigational tool is available to help older adults search for senior housing. Affiliated with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Senior Housing Locator provides objective, nationwide information through a database of more than 60,000 senior housing listings, including all licensed senior housing in the nation. Users can search for assisted living communities, nursing homes, residential care facilities, continuing care retirement communities and a growing list of independent living communities. 

http://www.snapforseniors.com

EPA Awards for Smart Growth Achievement
Recognize Housing Projects 

EPA’s National Award for Smart Growth Achievement recognizes
outstanding approaches to development that benefit the economy,
the community, public health and the environment.  Through innovative
ideas and collaboration, winners crafted policies and projects that
foster healthy, vibrant and diverse communities. 

http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm

New Columbia/Portland Housing Project Receives
Award for Overall Excellence 

New Columbia: Building Community Together, one of the Viable Future
Toolkit’s partner sites, was recognized for collaborating with public and
private stakeholders to redevelop an isolated and distressed public housing
site into a neighborhood that improves economic opportunity, community
livability and environmental quality for both old and new residents.  

See www.viablefuturestoolkit/toolkitinaction.htm ;
www.hapdx.org/newcolumbia/index.html
 

Seattle Housing Authority Receives Highest Award
for Built Projects 

Seattle’s High Point Redevelopment worked closely with community
members to rebuild a formerly crime-ridden and dilapidated 120-acre hilltop neighborhood into a mixed-use, mixed-income and environmentally sensitive community.

www.seattlehousing.org/development/highpoint/highpoint.html

REPORTS ON INTERGENERATIONAL SHARED SITES   

Generations United has released the finding from the first national
analysis of cost-savings in intergenerational shared site programs. 
This exploratory study, made possible by a grant from MetLife Foundation,
found evidence that intergenerational shared site programs that share
expenses also save money. A related report profiles ten organizations and showcases the excellent work  they do to unite the generations under one roof.  

For more information visit: http://www.gu.org/IG_Sh8191325.asp

AARP AND NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS LIVABLE
COMMUNITIES AWARDS:

 This first-time award recognizes forward thinking in the field of home and
community design and honors attractive, well-designed homes and communities, which are safe, comfortable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
The winning projects include an affordable, co-housing complex that preserves
open space and community gardens; a mixed-use pedestrian-friendly college
town in an evolving urban setting; and state-of-the-art energy efficient and user-friendly “homes for a lifetime.” 

www.aarp.org/families/home_design/universaldesign/
design_for_living.html

Housing Affordability 

ICMA has a new Management Perspective paper which includes tools,
resources and strategies that local government leaders can use to expand
and support home ownership in their communities. 

http://icma.org/main/ns.asp?nsid=3549&hsid=12&scid=28 

NCLR Homeownership Network

The National Council of LA Raza’s Homeownership Network consists of 45
NCLR affiliates through 20 states. This program works to increase the
 individual and community wealth of the Latino community through one on
one consultation in pre and post ownership topics such as navigating the
purchase process and anti-predatory lending.  

For more information, visit: http://www.nclr.org/section/nhn