$550 Million Initiative to Build Environmentally Friendly, Affordable Housing
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The Green Communities Initiative is a five-year, $550 million initiative to build more than 8,500 homes that provide significant health, economic and environmental benefits to low-income families and communities across the country.
This effort is a partnership of The
Enterprise Foundation/Enterprise Social Investment Corporation (ESIC)
and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), along with the
American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association and
leading corporate, financial and philanthropic organizations. Over
time, Green Communities will transform the way Americans think about,
locate, design and build affordable homes.
Green Communities will provide $550 million in grants and favorably priced financing to developers for affordable rental and for-sale homes nationwide, leveraging another half-a-billion dollars in development. Green Communities homes will be built in accordance with proven planning, design, development and management practices selected by Enterprise, NRDC and other experts. These Green Communities criteria will promote health, conserve energy and natural resources and enhance access to jobs, schools and services.
Green Communities also will provide expert training and technical
assistance to help housing developers meet Green Communities criteria.
The initiative will encourage government agencies at the local, state
and federal level to green their affordable housing programs. For
example, Enterprise, NRDC and other partners will work with state
agencies to dedicate a significant portion of their federal housing tax
credits to healthy, energy-efficient affordable housing sited near
public transportation and jobs, schools and services.
More information:
- Green Communities page of the Enterprise Foundation
- Green Communities press release
- Frequently asked questions about the program
