Biden-Harris Administration Invests $3.2 Million to Improve Housing for Savannah Families

HUD No. 24-287 HUD Public Affairs (202) 708-0685

FOR RELEASE Friday November 1, 2024

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $3.2 Million to Improve Housing for Savannah Families

HUD highlights significant climate resilience and energy efficiency renovations.

SAVANNAH - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) highlighted a $3.2 million award to Savannah Gardens Senior Residences in Savannah, Georgia under its Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) to support significant energy efficiency and climate resilience renovations for more than 39 rental homes. This Comprehensive grant will increase energy and water efficiency, reduce climate pollution, generate renewable energy, reduce housing operating costs, promote the use of green building materials, and improve the quality of life for residents by making these homes more resilient to climate hazards.

HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Programs Ethan Handelman traveled to Georgia to highlight this $3.2 million award, which will support crucial upgrades for residents in Savannah.

"The Green and Resilient Retrofit Program is delivering on its promise right here in Savannah, helping to fund renovations that will help Mercy Housing enhance Savannah Gardens Senior Residences and make the homes of its low-income senior citizens more energy efficient, comfortable, and stronger in the face of severe weather events," said HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Programs Ethan Handelman.

"HUD has awarded over $1.1 billion through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to modernize housing for families across the country as the climate crisis continues to affect our most vulnerable communities," said HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman. "These awards advance the Biden-Harris Administration's housing and clean energy goals to ensure families we serve live in resilient, energy efficient, and comfortable homes where they can thrive."

President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act-the largest climate investment in history-established the GRRP in 2022 to fund energy efficiency and climate resiliency improvements for multifamily properties participating in HUD's project-based rental assistance programs The investments announced today will advance environmental justice in line with President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Over $1.12 billion from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has now been awarded to 225 properties and nearly 26,000 rental homes, to make them greener, healthier, and safer for low-income households, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

"GRRP Elements awards provide a unique opportunity to invest in innovative housing solutions that prioritize sustainability," said Southeast Regional Administrator Jennifer Riley Collins. "By leveraging these funds that is exactly what Savannah Gardens has done to support renovations that reduce energy consumption, minimize environmental impact and create healthier, more resilient communities."

Savannah Gardens Senior Residences is a 40-unit property in Savannah, Georgia, currently participating in HUD's Section 202 project-based rental assistance program for low-income seniors. This award allowed Savannah Gardens to retrofit the property focusing on, reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy generation, and making the property more resilient to climate hazards. Additionally, the retrofit focused on the use of building materials with lower embodied carbon and improving the quality of life of residents through both green and healthy housing measures.

FACT SHEET: Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Progress to Date

• GRRP is the first HUD program to simultaneously invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, climate resilience, and low-embodied-carbon materials in HUD-assisted multifamily housing. All of the investments under the GRRP will be made in affordable housing communities serving low-income families, directly benefiting HUD-assisted housing, in alignment with the Justice40 Initiative.
• As of October 2024, GRRP funding has been awarded to 225 properties and more than 25,940 rental homes, to make them greener, healthier, and safer for low-income households, seniors, and persons with disabilities. The projects span the range from targeted upgrades to major net-zero renovation for properties in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
• GRRP funding is being used for insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, heat-resistant roofs, energy efficient heating and cooling, resiliency measures and other improvements.
• More than 1,000 properties have also signed up for HUD's free energy and water benchmarking service, funded with more than $40 million from the President's Inflation Reduction Act, so that HUD-assisted housing property owners can better understand the energy and water consumption at their properties in relation to other similar properties. This benchmarking information can in turn be used to assess energy efficiency and water conservation upgrades that can be funded under the GRRP.

Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Background Detail

The GRRP Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and additional guidance detail the multiple funding options for which property owners may apply:

• Elements provides funding to owners for proven and meaningful climate resilience and utility efficiency measures in projects that are already in the process of being recapitalized.
• Leading Edge provides funding to owners with plans for ambitious retrofit activities to achieve zero energy retrofits and an advanced green certification.
• Comprehensive provides funding to properties with the highest need for climate resilience and utility efficiency upgrades, regardless of prior development or environmental retrofit experience.