neighborworks green profiles 2014

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and other Green Voices

Profile Highlights5

NeiGHborWorks® GreeN orGaNizatioNs

Greening the Network:

PeoPle, PassioN aNd Possibilities

NeighborWorks greeN orgaNizatioNs 2014 • NeighborWorks® AmericA, WAshington, Dc

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The momentum continues to build and the effort to incorporate green practices into our buildings, workplaces, homes and communities is paying off.

Although the work is far from complete, we are encouraged by the accomplishments of this year’s 19 designees. They now join the previous 42 NeighborWorks Green Organizations who have said yes to the benefits, challenges and, more importantly, possibilities of a green and sustainable future.

We are very proud of the 61 network

organizations that achieved this

designation during the past three years. This is a great accomplishment

and demonstrates an incredible impact upon

our network and the residents they serve.

Network organizations6120142012˜

4,2oo Sixty-one network organizations have achieved the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation. That represents more than 4,200 employees. Through the organizations’ participation in this

program, a healthier, greener working environment is being created for many more!

Last year, more than 9,500 households received education on the core elements of healthy and sustainable homes.

The Possibilities AheadNow that we have 25 percent of the network solidly engaged in greening their environments, our impact is greater.

% New Rental

Homes with Green

85%

LEFT: NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley built its Marshfield Commons to Enterprise Green Community standards, featuring photovoltaic panels and built to take advantage of ample natural lighting.

RiGhT: Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency staff and volunteers participate in litter cleanup.

AbOvE RiGhT: Affordable Homes of South Texas builds new homes to Green Built RGV and ENERGY STAR standards.

AbOvE cENTER: Solar photo-voltaic panel installation atop Avenue Apartments property of Champlain Housing Trust produces more energy than consumed, allowing sale of unused energy to local utility company.

LEFT: Young resident participates in Bike4Life bicycle share program of St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society.


3table of CoNteNts

The Potential for Green at NeighborWorks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2014 NeighborWorks Green Organization Designees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Green Voices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Partnership Benefits Residents, Serves as Model for the FutureAHC – Arlington, Va . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Staff, Resident Leader Engage Youth within CommunityNeighborhood Housing Services of New Haven – New Haven, CT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Green Classes Open Up New Way of Living for ResidentsNeighborhood Housing Services of Southwest Wisconsin – Richland Center, WI . . . 10

Better Health, More Savings—Unexpected Benefits of Greening HomesNeighborWorks Great Falls – Great Falls, MT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Staff Push for Green Pays OffTenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp . – San Francisco, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Greening: A Conversation with Executive Director Clemente MojicaNeighborhood Partnership Housing Services, Ontario, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Green Activist Youth Receives Dorothy Richardson Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

NeighborWorks Green Organization Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Benefits of the Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

NeighborWorks Green Organizations: 2014 Directory of Trailblazers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Get Involved! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Youth volunteers at Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. show off raised garden beds.


4tHe PoteNtial for GreeN at NeiGHborWorks

NeighborWorks America works to improve communities so that they are safe, healthy and sustainable places for residents to live and grow. During the last six years,

we have challenged our partners, our affiliates and ourselves to deliver environmental benefits to all of our communities. This year, we are celebrating 19 organizations that have met that challenge. They made comprehensive changes in their operations and greening is now a priority.

Our NeighborWorks Green Organization program recognizes these members and supports their work. it sets green achievement levels in major program areas that NeighborWorks affiliates offer to their residents and communities. The organizations we celebrate are part of a larger group of NeighborWorks affiliates—61, representing 27 states, more than 4,200 employees and a quarter of the NeighborWorks network—that have achieved the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation since the program’s launch in 2011.

These leaders are setting an example and their communities are responding. but what happens next? The hard work and dedication are only a step toward something bigger. it’s important to understand how this work contributes to the success of their mission. The stories here reflect this focus on results, and are a testament to how greener buildings, homeowner education on sustainability, community building and engagement in green, and even greening operations benefit residents.

For example, cyndee curtis from Great Falls in Montana, a single mother of two, found that after her family moved into their new green home, her daughter’s asthma symptoms disappeared. Doreen Abubakar reconnected a community to its river and works with Kathy Fay of Neighborhood housing Services of New haven to improve the river’s health. Don Falk of Tenderloin Neighborhood Development corp. in San Francisco found that going green improved his staff’s morale.

These stories only scratch the surface of the impact that our green designees are having on their communities and the residents they serve. Their stories reflect the work of just one quarter of the NeighborWorks network. imagine the impact when more of the network goes green! With this publication, we highlight some of the passionate people in their organizations and in their communities who are leading the way to greener outcomes. The 19 new designees are among the trailblazers championing a philosophy that benefits people and the planet. We want to make this important work—developing sustainable homes, workplaces and communities—a part of every organization’s way of thinking. The possibilities are great. We hope to inspire you to be green at your organization and in the work that you do.

Clare Rosenberger, senior manager, Green Strategies, NeighborWorks America


52014 NeiGHborWorks GreeN orGaNizatioN desiGNees

let’s Celebrate! 2014 NeighborWorks Green organizations This year, we celebrate 19 new NeighborWorks Green Organizations whose leaders and staff have integrated green practices into their day-to-day operations, the homes they build, and the neighborhoods and communities they work to sustain. We commend them for their remarkable achievements as they take their place alongside their peers in leading the NeighborWorks network to a green future. They have matched their commitment with hard work and their advocacy with action. beyond commitment, these dedicated people have shown the stamina and heart needed to meet the green guidelines for all the program areas they run and for their workplaces. We recognize them for their vision and the exemplary work that will give others a better tomorrow. because of their work, the movement toward green is steady and the possibilities far-reaching. We congratulate all the NeighborWorks Green Organizations!

...is a leader in Iowa in the

preservation and adaptive reuse of

historic properties.

✓

affordable Homes of south texas (Mcallen, tX) received recognition from American Electric Power as the second-highest-volume builder of ENERGY STAR homes in the region. ENERGY STAR also recognized the organization for building more than 60 certified homes, including its NeighborWorks homeownership center, which is the only ENERGY STAR-certified property in McAllen.

aHC (arlington, Va) partnered with Arlingtonians for a clean Environment (AcE) and its Arlington Energy Masters program to weatherize three properties. AcE’s program trains volunteers to complete a 25-point checklist of improvements, including sealing air leaks, installing water-conserving devices and educating residents about energy and water conservation through behavior change.

Cabrillo economic development Corp. (Ventura, Ca) started a “Live Work Green Task Force” 2.5 years ago. The group led many efforts, such as planting a community garden, teaching employees and residents to develop green habits, and learning best practices from guest speakers at environmentally friendly organizations.

Champlain Housing trust (burlington, Vt), with more than 350 homes, manages the largest portfolio of shared-equity houses in the county. chT offers a cozy home Loan program geared especially to shared-equity homeowners that includes green products and services such as new insulation, solar photovoltaic and hot water panels, furnace replacement, energy audits and air sealing.

Codman square Neighborhood development Corp. (dorchester, Ma) created an Eco-innovation District (EiD) with local and national partners that is now part of the EcoDistricts Target cities program. The EiD uses energy retrofits, onsite energy generation, transit-oriented development and green infrastructure to create neighborhood-scale change and help residents save money, live more healthy and sustainable lifestyles, and access more jobs.

Community Concepts (lewiston, Me) has made great strides in green construction and improvements by completing more than 180 energy-efficient upgrades in homes, building 14 ENERGY STAR-certified homes and making several improvements at its offices and rental properties. community concepts also works heavily in healthy and safe housing, and helped bring the Green & healthy homes initiative to Lewiston.

Community Housing initiatives (spencer, ia) is a state leader in the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic properties, receiving recognition for its work from the National Park Service, State historical Society of iowa, Preservation iowa and Dubuque county historical Society.

Neighborhood Housing services of Greater Cleveland (oH) is developing ENERGYOU, a seminar for northeast Ohio residents that investigates everyday energy consumption and the ways in which residents can reduce their monthly expenses through financial planning, efficient energy use, transportation choices and food options.

Neighborhood Housing services of New Haven (Ct) holds its home maintenance and homebuyer education classes in its LEED Platinum certified home improvement and Energy conservation Lab. The lab received the 2010 connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Greencircle Award and the 2011 business New haven GreenMakers Award. it also was named Most intriguing commercial building in 2009 by the connecticut Green building council.

TOP LEFT: Affordable Homes of South Texas NeighborWorks Homeownership Center is ENERGY STAR-certified.

SEcOND LEFT: Macedonian Apartments is the result of AHC partnership with Macedonia Baptist Church.

ThiRD LEFT: Silo at Champlain Housing Trust’s Pleasant Street holds wood pellets to heat its boilers.

bOTTOM LEFT: Young residents show off their harvest at celebration of Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp.’s Oasis on Ballou initiative.


62014 NeiGHborWorks GreeN orGaNizatioN desiGNees

Neighborhood Housing services of southwest Wisconsin, (richland Center, Wi), whose new construction program is rated as a best practice by NeighborWorks America, regularly builds new homes to Wisconsin Green built home and ENERGY STAR standards, ensuring that residents receive the benefits of energy efficiency, water conservation and healthy indoor living environments.

NeighborWorks blackstone river Valley (Woonsocket, ri) incorporates geothermal systems, solar energy, water conservation and energy efficiency into the development, maintenance and upkeep of all properties. it also works within the community to plan and incorporate infrastructure changes such as natural playscapes and greenways into the neighborhoods it serves.

NeighborWorks Great falls (Mt) has engaged with several hundred active U.S. Air Force personnel from nearby Malmstrom Air Force base in annual community cleanups. Ongoing for 31 years, the cleanup disposed of 14 tons of garbage from public areas and roadways, residents’ yards and properties of the elderly and disabled at a two-weekend event in 2014.

NeighborWorks orange County (Ca) sent resident leaders to the 2013 NeighborWorks America community Leadership institute and established the Santa Ana Active Streets coalition. it engaged other residents, particularly youth, in influencing decision making for Santa Ana’s General Plan circulation Element Update.

New directions Housing Corp. (louisville, kY) complied with historic preservation standards in its rehabilitation of Reeser court Apartments located in the National historic Preservation District of Old Louisville. it also met new standards for environmental safety, including using energy-efficient doors and windows, and white roofs to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Northwest Michigan Community action agency (Cadillac, Mi) spearheaded initiatives to green its internal operations by using the agency’s Weatherization Department to conduct energy audits of its three offices. it tracked utility data from each office for the last three years, and set up systems that make recycling more convenient for employees.

self-Help enterprises (Visalia, Ca) diverted much of its office waste from landfills by placing recycling bins instead of trash cans in staff work spaces. it clearly identified bins in the employee break room for recycling and composting materials, and changed printer settings to default to double-sided printing.

st. Joseph’s Carpenter society (Camden, NJ) adopted a neighborhood stabilization model, which includes sustainable practices that affect all aspects of the community. it includes developing construction methods to create energy-efficient homes, community events and trainings such as the East camden bikeshare, and homeownership education curricula that emphasize environmentally safe and durable products for the home.

tenderloin Neighborhood development Corp. (san francisco, Ca), recognizing that reaching goals in energy and resource use reduction requires more than technological fixes, incorporates strategies in its Green Asset Management Plan to analyze tenant and staff behavior to motivate change. TNDc aims to apply these findings in water use, unit lighting and recycling/composting.

the Neighborhood developers (Chelsea, Ma) recently completed highland Terrace, a LEED for homes Platinum affordable rental property, in the box District. The box District follows smart growth principles, which includes 248 new homes built by TND and partner Mitchell Properties, and features a new park and a planned bus rapid-transit stop.

...set up systems that make recycling

more convenient for employees.

AbOvE: Common room is one of many amenities in Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp.’s Kelly Cullen Community, a supportive housing rehab of former YMCA building.

TOP LEFT: Children now have place to play in The Neighborhood Developers playground, part of the Box District.

MiDDLE LEFT: St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society recycles or salvages at least 50 percent of nonhazardous construction debris from all new construction developments.

bOTTOM LEFT: Self-Help Enterprises staff uses on-site bicycle storage at office.


7GreeN VoiCes

behind every NeighborWorks Green Organization is a team of people— a green champion and committed staff, a supportive executive director, community residents, volunteers and others who care about sustainability into the future. This year, we asked some of them to share their thoughts on the importance and benefits of green homes and sustainable communities. These stories reflect how green practices have impacted them personally, their families, workplaces and communities. They include:

A pastor who collaborated with AHC to build green in the Arlington, VA, community he serves.

A graduate of NHS of Southwest Wisconsin’s “Going Greener” course whose life changed for the better as a result.

A single mother of two who purchased a new, green home with the help of NeighborWorks Great Falls, and found that her daughter’s health improved.

The executive director of Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp., who witnessed improved employee morale after the staff went green.

Staff at NHS of New Haven and a community resident who partnered to create a greener, healthier city and connect the community to its river.


8aHC – arliNGtoN, VaPartnership benefits residents, serves as Model for the future

The Nauck neighborhood in Arlington, vA, is the oldest African-American neighborhood in the county. Freed slaves first purchased land and built homes there in 1844. Today, Nauck is still home to many African-Americans and neighborhood institutions, including

the Macedonia baptist church. Established in 1908, the church has deep roots in Nauck and actively funnels its resources into community development initiatives.

in one major venture, Macedonia’s pastor, Leonard L. hamlin Sr., D.Min., began a partnership with Ahc to fulfill a vision for community development and restoration.

“Our organizations complement each other very well,” says hamlin. “We bring different types of expertise to the table to serve the community and create affordable housing opportunities.”

The Macedonian Apartments, a 36-unit low- and moderate-income development in Nauck, grew out of this partnership. Along with the land itself, Macedonia baptist provided an understanding of the community’s needs and relationships, while Ahc brought expertise in real estate development and financing. Arlington’s first Earthcraft-certified new construction multifamily building was built under this partnership. Earthcraft virginia cited the partners as having “the most energy-efficient, multifamily,” certified building and “some of the best integrated design we have seen in the state.”

“Ahc is a leader in green, and we wanted to be part of this as well,” hamlin says. “We wanted a development that fit in Nauck, benefitted its residents and could serve as a model for future development. Affordability strengthens the community since it helps people stay in place, and green provides this through efficiencies that reduce the cost of heating and cooling. With rising costs of energy, this is truly a benefit. Many buildings struggle with maintaining affordability, and we believe that these green elements help maintain affordability for a longer period into the future.”

AHC is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing in the mid-Atlantic region, including the Baltimore-Washington area and Virginia, providing quality homes for low- and moderate-income families. Since 1975, AHC has developed or preserved 40 rental apartment complexes with more than 5,300 apartments.

“Ahc is a leader in green, and we wanted to be part of this as well.”– Dr. Leonard L. Hamlin Sr., pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church


9NeiGHborHood HousiNG serViCes of NeW HaVeN – NeW HaVeN, Ctstaff, resident leader engage Youth with river

As Neighborhood housing Services (NhS) of New haven deepens its commitment to the environment, community-based partnerships are key. NhS participates in the healthy city/healthy climate challenge, which asks residents to simultaneously reduce their

carbon footprint and improve their health in five different ways.

“This challenge underscores how changes in the environment affect the well-being of our communities. Since going green means improved health outcomes, we support it wholeheartedly,” says Kathy Fay, manager, NhS home improvement and Energy conservation

Lab.

NhS also provides support to local groups like the West River Watershed Partnership, an initiative of resident leader Doreen Abubakar. “We have this river in our community, yet few of our youth, especially those of color, know about and have a connection to it. it is such a great natural resource, but no one thinks of it that way. by engaging young people from New haven neighborhoods with their watershed, we

hope to inspire them to pursue further education.” Abubakar teamed up with Fay to organize the West River Water Festival, an annual summer celebration featuring fishing lessons and canoe rides. “NhS really made a difference in helping us connect families and youth to the nature in their own backyard.”

in Fay and Abubakar’s work together, they discovered that the West River is subject to combined sewerage overspills and spread the word about this community health threat. Two new coalitions were forged: one promoting green infrastructure solutions to overspills throughout the region, and a second focusing on the West River watershed that meets monthly at NhS.

“it’s important for us to partner in the community around green,” says Fay. “Our residents benefit from it.”

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven was incorporated in 1979 and today focuses on positioning New Haven’s neighborhoods to succeed by increasing homeownership, making homes beautiful, energy-efficient and affordable; and helping residents take charge of their neighborhoods. NHS believes increased owner-occupancy rates, educated homebuyers and rehabilitated houses produce stable, revitalized neighborhoods that clients are proud to call home.

“by engaging young people from New haven neighborhoods with their watershed, we hope to inspire them to pursue further education.”–Doreen Abubakar, resident leader

“We support green wholeheartedly.” Kathy Fay, manager, Home Improvement and Energy Conservation Lab


10NeiGHborHood HousiNG serViCes of soutHWest WisCoNsiN – riCHlaNd CeNter, WiGreen Classes open up New Way of living for residents

As part of its drive to go green, Neighborhood housing Services (NhS) of Southwest Wisconsin created a new class called “Going Greener,” based on the book, “EnAct: Steps to Greener Living,” by Sonya Newenhouse, Ph.D., showing the many ways area

residents could incorporate green into their lives. For nearly three months, class participants learned about a wide range of green-living topics from community leaders. Upon graduation, participants received a $500 grant for a green home improvement.

“i was taking a financial literacy class with NhS when i first heard about ‘Going Greener.’ i really liked the idea, so i enrolled,” says Mary hanrahan, one graduate who felt the class affected her life tremendously. “Local speakers presented on green resources available in our own community. i had no idea there was so much right here!”

The speakers were not the only ones leading class. “All the class participants had to teach at least one session and prepare presentations. We learned so much from one another,” says hanrahan. “The town sheriff spoke to us about trails and greenways in the community. We also visited the local farmers market and spoke directly with farmers who shared cooking techniques and recipes for numerous vegetables. There are so many more things i now know how to cook, thanks to them! i’m eating healthier and getting lots of exercise.”

The lessons hanrahan learned helped her save on energy bills, especially during the early 2014 polar vortex. “Those tips saved me a lot. it was frigid outside, so who knows what my energy bill would have been otherwise?”

hanrahan had only one complaint about the class: “i had such a great time with everyone learning everything. i wish we could’ve kept going!”

Neighborhood Housing Services of Southwest Wisconsin was founded in 1983, and provides assistance in homeownership education and counseling, new single family home construction, senior housing, and community building and engagement. NHS is committed to incorporating healthy and sustainable principles into every facet of its operations.

“Local speakers presented on green resources available in our own community. i had no idea there was so much right here!” — Mary Hanrahan, “Going Greener” graduate


11NeiGHborWorks Great falls – Great falls, Mtbetter Health, More savings—unexpected benefits of Greening Homes

To fulfill its mission, NeighborWorks Great Falls (NWGF) partners with NextStep to help owners of old manufactured homes upgrade to more energy-efficient versions. Work in this realm is crucial, because many manufactured homes built before 1976 do not meet

the Manufactured home construction and Safety Standards, a U.S. Department of housing and Urban Development building code. Although many pre-1976 homes are affordable, they lack adequate insulation and were constructed under standards that don’t ensure thermal comfort, thus diverting potential savings to heating bills.

“in the winter, i was spending $120 per month on gas and $100 on electricity,” says cyndee curtis, a single mother of two who participated in NWGF’s Manufactured home Replacement Program. “We had a 1971 manufactured home with an addition, which lacked insulation. The doorway to the addition leaked every time it rained or snowed, so it started to grow mold.” The mold affected her daughter’s health. “She slept in that addition and developed asthma. She needed an inhaler to deal with the symptoms,” says curtis.

After receiving her LPN degree in nursing, she contacted NWGF to get a new home. “We needed a positive change, and they helped me so much. NWGF helped me rebuild my credit so i could get a new ENERGY STAR-rated home and find funding to help pay for it. When i did, it made a huge difference. Now the gas bill never exceeds $50 a month and electricity is no more than $30. The extra savings go toward paying off the house.” There were other benefits. The entire family is more comfortable and curtis says her daughter’s asthma disappeared. “She now only uses the inhaler when she catches a cold.”

“The staff at NWGF are great to work with. They are genuine people who care about the community and want to help,” she adds.

NeighborWorks Great Falls builds strong neighborhoods, creates successful homeowners and promotes quality, affordable housing, primarily for low- and moderate-income families in northern Montana.

“Now the gas bill never exceeds $50 a month and electricity is no more than $30.” –Cyndee Curtis, Resident


12teNderloiN NeiGHborHood deVeloPMeNt CorP. – saN fraNCisCo, Castaff Push for Green Pays off

For 20 years, Don Falk has worked at Tenderloin Neighborhood Development corp. (TNDc), the last nine as executive director. Falk plays an important role in helping the organization achieve its mission to provide affordable housing and services for low-

income people in the Tenderloin and throughout San Francisco.

As executive director, Falk ensures that leadership responds to staff concerns about the focus of TNDc work. When staff expressed an interest in greening, Falk offered TNDc resources to elevate greening as an organizational priority. “Many of our staff are motivated around ideas of energy efficiency and resource conservation, so they pushed me to focus more on green,” said Falk. “Our prioritizing green is the direct result of their drive and leadership.”

TNDc began by creating and funding a sustainability manager position, identifying environmental sustainability as a goal in its 2013 Strategic Plan and joining the better buildings challenge, an innovative U.S. Department of Energy program that supports energy efficiency. TNDc hosted an Earth Day Fair where staff shared information on bicycling, TNDc’s carpool program and green office tips, and heard a presentation by janitorial technicians about new biodegradable, eco-friendly cleaning products that are safer.

“i am proud that staff pushed us to focus more on green, not because they wanted to complete a checklist but because they care about these issues,” said Falk. “it can be challenging since the payoff occurs over a long period of time, but it is good not just for the planet but also for our business and for our tenants. When staff see leadership taking this seriously, in response to their drive, it improves morale and creates a virtuous cycle of organizational health.”

Founded in 1981, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. is the largest community-based development corporation in San Francisco, and among the largest in America. TNDC continues to expand its geographic reach beyond the Tenderloin, providing high-quality support services and property management and a strong commitment to increasing the quality of life for people in the Tenderloin and the broader neighborhood.

“Our prioritizing green is the direct result of [staff] drive and leadership.”— Don Falk, executive director, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp.


13“GreeNiNG: a CoNVersatioN WitH…”

Rosenberger: When did NPHS join the NeighborWorks network and what was your role at the time?

Mojica: NPhS joined the NeighborWorks network in 1991. NPhS was formed through a collaborative effort between community leaders, local government and NeighborWorks America. initially, our primary purpose was to revitalize neighborhoods by providing home improvement grants and loans to low-income residents, primarily seniors.

Rosenberger: Why did you begin greening your organization? What was the tipping point for you?

Mojica: Greening our organization and projects was a decision by both our board of directors and staff. in 2010, NPhS decided to enter the green building space primarily to reduce energy consumption in our single-family homes that we were renovating and selling, which in turn reduced energy bills for the lower-income families who were purchasing them. in fact, 70 percent of all our single-family homes are sold to families with below 80 percent of the average median income. The housing crisis was the tipping point for NPhS regarding going green. The Great Recession made us think about more effective ways to create long-term, sustainable homeownership. We believe that greening homes is an effective way to make homeownership more affordable to lower-income families for the long term. We know that greening has environmental benefits, but we were more concerned with the economic benefits it has for low-income families and how it helps ensure sustainable homeownership. Now we take into account the economic and health benefits green building has on homeowners, as well as the impact it has on the environment.

Rosenberger: Looking back, what was—or continues to be—your greatest challenge?

Mojica: The challenge is always being able to afford greening a single-family home and sell it at a price that will generate net revenue to sustain the program. it is often cost-prohibitive unless we purchase the home significantly below market value. however, we’ve implemented several cost-control practices to make greening our homes more feasible. currently, NPhS significantly greens every two out of three homes it acquires and sells.

Rosenberger: You are committed to sustainability and the environment. How do you get others – in your organization and your community – to commit?

Mojica: We market and promote not just the positive impact greening has on the environment, but also the economic and health benefits. The economic and health benefits resonate more with our communities because they are more tangible and directly affect them. We garner more community support and commitment when we promote more tangible benefits.

Rosenberger: Your organization achieved the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation in 2013. How has that affected your programs over the last 12 months?

Mojica: it has helped us with our grant/fundraising efforts. We’ve received about $100,000 in grants to support our green building efforts and we believe our NeighborWorks Green Organization designation helped us get these grants. We always include that we are designated a Green Organization by NeighborWorks America. The designation also helps us garner more credibility with our stakeholders and clients.

Clemente Mojica, executive director, Neighborhood Partnership Housing services, ontario, Ca

One of the first executive directors to lead his organization to NeighborWorks Green Organization designation, clemente Mojica answers questions put to him by Green Strategies Senior Manager clare Rosenberger about his experience with going green—the benefits, challenges, hard work—and his recommendations to other leaders.

Clemente Mojica


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Rosenberger: How has the designation affected your organization and its employees?

Mojica: Green building has become a philosophy in our corporate culture. it is not just a service-delivery model. it really has become a value in our corporate culture. Our operations also have been greened. We recycle everything we can and our operations are designed to conserve energy. Our staff has taken the lead on this. On a related note, our new headquarters is under construction and we will be attaining a minimum LEED Silver certification – a strong commitment to sustainability. both staff and our board of directors have embraced greening wholeheartedly.

Rosenberger: We know residents benefit from green efforts made by organizations like yours. I’d love to hear some examples from your community.

Mojica: We just finished greening a home in the city of victorville that includes solar panels, which is being purchased by a low-income elderly veteran. This is our Sandalwood Project. Our work in this space is catalytic in the sense that it encourages homeowners in the neighborhood to make green improvements to their homes. For example, several homeowners who live on the same street in our Sandalwood Project inquired about how to purchase solar panels for their homes. We connected these homeowners with Grid Alternatives, an organization that provides free or low-cost solar panels to low-income homeowners. currently, two homeowners from the same neighborhood are in the process of applying.

We also include beautiful drought-tolerant landscapes on all of our properties. This significantly reduces water consumption. This is important in california since we are experiencing one of the worst droughts in our history. Almost every time when we are landscaping our properties, we receive inquiries from surrounding homeowners about doing the same to their homes. We usually connect them with our landscaper for this service. We permit our drought-tolerant landscapers to place a sign in the front yard to promote their business while they are doing their landscaping and while the home is being rehabilitated. We estimate that during the last three years, at least 45 additional families or households (we actually think it’s closer to 60) re-landscaped their home due to this catalytic effect.

Rosenberger: Are residents the only ones who benefit?

Mojica: Our greening is designed to help low-income buyers benefit from the economic and health of green homes, but the benefits extend into the community as well. contractors, nonprofits and local governments also benefit from our green building work. Our green building work puts landscapers, solar panel installers and general contractors to work. Our nonprofit partners and the local government also benefit as we work together to leverage our resources to produce more green homes and maximize impact. For example, GRiD Alternatives leverage their program to access quality, low-cost solar panels for our homes. We also partner with it to conduct green building education workshops that help promote its solar panel program.

With local governments, we green homes that are being rehabilitated using federal hOME funds. Without leveraging our funding resources, we wouldn’t be able to scale our green building efforts.

From a resource-development perspective, funders are also a beneficiary of our green building work. We leverage their funding with other public and private resources to maximize their investment. For example, we received a green building grant from Wells Fargo to install solar panels on seven single-family homes. however, we will leverage their funding with other public and private resources and we expect to actually install solar panels on 11 homes.

Rosenberger: On a personal note, what drives you?

Mojica: The economic and health benefits of greening are one of the drivers. Also, i am fascinated by the intellectual and scholarly approach that our industry embraces when tackling and implementing sustainability issues.

Rosenberger: What would you say to your colleagues, your peers who want sustainable communities, but have not joined the program?

Mojica: Entering the green building space is not as hard as it seems if you develop a program that is embraced by your funders, staff and board of directors. Also, you want to start small and gradually scale up your green building programs. That is how NPhS did it.

“GreeNiNG: a CoNVersatioN WitH…”Clemente Mojica, executive director, Neighborhood Partnership Housing services, ontario, Ca


15GreeN aCtiVist YoutH reCeiVes dorotHY riCHardsoN aWard

in 2008, nine-year-old Jason Amboo moved with his family to Glenville Road, a community overwhelmed by gang activity and drug trafficking. Littered streets and alleyways told a tale of neighborhood neglect.

At 11, Amboo broached the idea of creating a green team with three close friends, middle school “tweens” who had aged out of the afterschool homework club. The youth approached Montgomery housing Partnership (MhP), asking for help to start, staff and implement their green effort—the Green club.

The collaboration clicked. his idea blossomed into a green movement that attracted all kinds of neighbors. boys and girls, “tweens,” parents and the cul-de-sac landlords were all motivated by Amboo’s call to action and got involved. The Green club collected more than 200 pounds of litter, including plastic, metal, glass, paper and trash. Amboo organized weekly meetings and environmental classes for members. community-wide educational and outreach campaigns built around recycling and cleanups were started from these sessions.

Today, the 18-member Glenville Road Green club is a source of best practices for various community improvements and service projects and a prototype for engaging youth, who often convince their parents and other adults to become better stewards of their environment.

“For our community, the Green club stands for everything green and innovative that can produce changes in attitudes toward our neighborhood and provide a healthy environment for future generations,” says Amboo, who helped create the club’s mission statement and messaging.

Amboo lives with his mother and younger brother in the Glenville Road neighborhood of Silver Spring, MD. he is active in his high school choir, loves to play football and since 2012 has volunteered 364 hours with the MhP afterschool homework club, helping 5- to 11-year-olds with homework and computer skills.

Fourteen-year-old Jason Amboo, 2014 Dorothy Richardson Award recipient, founded the Glenville Road Green Club when he was eleven.

Dorothy Richardson, community activist

the dorothy richardson award for resident leadership honors a community leader for outstanding contributions to volunteerism and neighborhood activism.


16

Board resolution Publicized green commitment

Green rehabilitation products Marketing green benefits Resource awareness

Green rehab assessment Green rehab scope

Green building programs

Green rehab specifications Home performance testing

Green curriculum content Trained educators

Sustainable business practices Green leadership and management Employee awareness

Green asset management strategy Utility consumption analysis Green operations and maintenance Green capital improvements

Green materials, education Resident communications

Green planning and action Resident engagement

NeiGHborWorks GreeN orGaNizatioN ProGraM

Section 1

orGaNizatioNal CoMMitMeNt

Section 4

leNdiNG

Section 6

MultifaMilY reHabilitatioN

Section 5

NeW CoNstruCtioN

Section 7

siNGle faMilY reHabilitatioN

Section 3

HoMeoWNersHiP aNd fiNaNCial eduCatioN aNd CouNseliNG

Section 2

oPeratioNs

Section 8

asset aNd ProPertY MaNaGeMeNt

Section 9

oWNer aNd resideNt aWareNess

Section 10

CoMMuNitY buildiNG aNd eNGaGeMeNt

NeighborWorks america NeighborWorks America believes that green housing and education can help residents thrive in their homes and communities and that implementing comprehensive green strategies is the best way to deliver these benefits. Thus, we are doing what we have asked NeighborWorks members to do. Employing and promoting green and sustainable practices for the long-term benefit of residents and communities remains one of our three operating principles.

our supportNeighborWorks America provides a number of resources to assist our network members with greening their operations and services and meeting the NeighborWorks Green Organization standards. Our expansive resources are easily accessible and available to everyone at every NeighborWorks Training institute and online. For NeighborWorks members, opportunities for direct support includes: green technical assistance and training; funding for green-related projects and programs; online resource guides covering all NeighborWorks Green Organization program areas, green strategies and other valuable information; and peer learning opportunities for member organizations to network and collaborate on new ventures.

NeighborWorks Green organization ProgramThe NeighborWorks Green Organization program provides a clear definition of what NeighborWorks America considers green and offers guidance on how to incorporate green business practices into and across an organization’s operations and service areas. The program guidelines explain minimum levels of green achievement for an organization as a whole and each service area. As organizations pursue the designation, the Green Strategies team assists in understanding and meeting program standards.

Green achievements: Guidelines for GreeningThe program guidelines offer a roadmap of sustainable green strategies that can be incorporated into an organization’s operations or into any or all program areas. Upon accomplishing certain green achievements, including a demonstrated commitment to sustainable operations, an organization is recognized with the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation.

thumbnail summary of Program areas and Green achievements


17

CORE PRINCIPLES

NeiGHborWorks GreeN orGaNizatioN ProGraM

T he nine principles provide a complete picture of the steps needed to create the healthy and sustainable homes and communities that NeighborWorks

America and its network seek to achieve. Each can be applied to program areas, including the education of residents and homeowners, building rehabilitation and property management. NeighborWorks America has identified three areas—energy efficiency, water conservation and healthy indoor environments—as core

principles that are considered the minimum threshold for greening projects or programs. While energy is one of the most common issues highlighted in the greening industry, and the three core principles are the minimum threshold for potential NeighborWorks Green Organization designees, the prospect of healthy and sustainable outcomes is increased when the remaining six are put into practice.

reCYCliNG aNd Waste reduCtioN

aCCessibilitY aNd WalkabilitY

eNViroNMeNtallY frieNdlY laNdsCaPes

sustaiNable Materials aNd ProduCts

lifeCYCle aPProaCH

durabilitY

eNerGY effiCieNCY

Water CoNserVatioN

HealtHY iNdoor eNViroNMeNts

Stature and Recognition

Set your organization apart from others by demonstrat-ing that you are a leader in incorporating green practices into your work.

Marketing and Branding

Use the designation to high-light your organization’s work to new audiences and brand yourself as an organization committed to green.

Funding Opportunities

Open yourself to new funders interested in green, partici-pate in NeighborWorks grant programs only available to NeighborWorks Green Organization designees, and increase your organization’s strength in NeighborWorks real estate grant-distribution activities.

Peer-Exchange Events

Learn from your peers to go even further in greening. With 25 percent of the NeighborWorks network designated green, the possibilities for collaboration are incredible!

beNefits of tHe desiGNatioN


18NeiGHborWorks GreeN orGaNizatioNs: 2014 direCtorY of trailblazers

2014 desiGNeesAffORdABLE HOMES Of SOUTH TExAS McAllen, TX • www.ahsti.org/

AHC Arlington, VA • www.ahcinc.org/

CABRILLO ECONOMIC dEvELOPMENT CORP. Ventura, CA • www.cabrilloedc.org/

CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST Burlington, VT • www.getahome.org/

COdMAN SqUARE NEIGHBORHOOd dEvELOPMENT CORP. Dorchester, MA • www.csndc.com/

COMMUNITY CONCEPTS Lewiston, ME • www.community-concepts.org/

COMMUNITY HOUSING INITIATIvES Spencer, IA • www.chihousing.com/

NEIGHBORHOOd HOUSING SERvICES Of GREATER CLEvELANd Cleveland, OH • www.nhscleveland.org/

NEIGHBORHOOd HOUSING SERvICES Of NEW HAvEN New Haven, CT • www.nhsofnewhaven.org/

NEIGHBORHOOd HOUSING SERvICES Of SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN Richland Center, WI • nhsrcwi.org/

NEIGHBORWORkS BLACkSTONE RIvER vALLEY Woonsocket, RI • www.neighborworksbrv.org/

NEIGHBORWORkS GREAT fALLS Great Falls, MT • www.nwgreatfalls.org/

NEIGHBORWORkS ORANGE COUNTY Orange, CA • www.nwoc.org/

NEW dIRECTIONS HOUSING CORP. Louisville, KY • www.ndhc.org/

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY Traverse City, MI • www.nmcaa.net/

SELf-HELP ENTERPRISES Visalia, CA • www.selfhelpenterprises.org/

ST. JOSEPH’S CARPENTER SOCIETY Camden, NJ • www.sjcscamden.org/

TENdERLOIN NEIGHBORHOOd dEvELOPMENT CORP. San Francisco, CA • www.tndc.org/

THE NEIGHBORHOOd dEvELOPERS Chelsea, MAwww.theneighborhooddevelopers.org/

2013 desiGNeesAEON Minneapolis, MN • www.aeonmn.org/

ARBOR HOUSING ANd dEvELOPMENT Bath, NY • www.arbordevelopment.org/

ASIAN AMERICANS fOR EqUALITY New York, NY • www.aafe.org/

BCL Of TExAS Austin, TX • www.bcloftexas.org/

dHIC Raleigh, NC • www.dhic.org/

HOME HEAdqUARTERS Syracuse, NY • www.homehq.org/

HOMEPORT Columbus, OH • www.homeportohio.org/

HUdSON RIvER HOUSING Poughkeepsie, NY • www.hudsonriverhousing.org/

ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOd HOUSING SERvICES Ithaca, NY • www.ithacanhs.org/

kENNEBEC vALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM Waterville, ME • www.kvcap.org/

kNOx HOUSING PARTNERSHIP Knoxville, TN • www.khp.org/

MId CENTRAL COMMUNITY ACTION Bloomington, IL • www.mccainc.org/

MONTGOMERY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP Silver Spring, MD • www.mhpartners.org/

MUTUAL HOUSING CALIfORNIA Sacramento, CA • www.mutualhousing.com/

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGRICULTURAL LIfE ANd LABOR RESEARCH fUNd Dover, DE • www.ncall.org/

NEIGHBORHOOd PARTNERSHIP HOUSING SERvICES Ontario, CA • www.nphs.info/

PATHSTONE CORP. Rochester, NY • www.pathstone.org/

PRIMAvERA fOUNdATION Tucson, AZ • www.primavera.org/

RURALEdGE Lyndonville, VT • www.ruraledge.org/

Continued on next page.

www.ahsti.org/

www.ahcinc.org/

www.cabrilloedc.org

www.getahome.org/

www.csndc.com/

www.chihousing.com/

www.nhscleveland.org/

www.nhsofnewhaven.org/

www.nhsrcwi.org/

www.neighborworksbrv.org/

www.nwgreatfalls.org/

www.nwoc.org/

www.ndhc.org/

www.nmcaa.net/

www.selfhelpenterprises.org/

www.sjcscamden.org/

www.tndc.org/

www.theneighborhooddevelopers.org/

www.aeonmn.org/

www.arbordevelopment.org/

www.aafe.org/

www.bcloftexas.org/

www.dhic.org/

www.homehq.org/

www.homeportohio.org/

www.hudsonriverhousing.org/

www.ithacanhs.org/

www.kvcap.org/

www.khp.org/

www.mccainc.org/

www.mhpartners.org/

www.mutualhousing.com

www.ncall.org/

http://bit.ly/ZzYCYp

www.pathstone.org/

www.primavera.org/

www.ruraledge.org/

http://www.community-concepts.org/


19NeiGHborWorks GreeN orGaNizatioNs: 2014 direCtorY of trailblazers

2013 desiGNees (cont.)

SELECT MILWAUkEE Milwaukee, WI • www.selectmilwaukee.org/

SOUTHWEST SOLUTIONS Detroit, MI • www.swsol.org/

TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY dEvELOPMENT CORP. Fitchburg, MA • www.twincitiescdc.org/

UNHS NEIGHBORWORkS HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER Utica, NY • www.unhs.org/

THE UNITY COUNCIL Oakland, CA • www.unitycouncil.org/

WEST ELMWOOd HOUSING dEvELOPMENT CORP. Providence, RI • www.wehdc.org/

WEST SIdE NEIGHBORHOOd HOUSING SERvICES Buffalo, NY • www.wsnhs.org

2012 desiGNeesCAMBRIdGE NEIGHBORHOOd APARTMENT HOUSING SERvICES Cambridge, MA• www.cambridgenahs.org

COMMUNITY dEvELOPMENT CORP. Of LONG ISLANd Centereach, NY • www.cdcli.org

COMMUNITY HOUSING PARTNERS Christiansburg, vA www.communityhousingpartners.org/

COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORkS San Diego, CA • www.chworks.org/

fOUNdATION COMMUNITIES Austin, TX • www.foundcom.org/

HOMEWISE Santa Fe, NM • www.homewise.org/

HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Of ESSEx COUNTY Elizabethtown, NY • www.hapec.org/

NEIGHBORHOOd dEvELOPMENT SERvICES Ravenna, OH • www.ndsohio.org

NEIGHBORWORkS Of WESTERN vERMONT West Rutland, VT • www.nwwvt.org/

NEIGHBORWORkS UMPqUA Roseburg, OR • www.nwumpqua.org/

NEW kENSINGTON COMMUNITY dEvELOPMENT CORP. Philadelphia, PA• www.nkcdc.org/

REACH COMMUNITY dEvELOPMENT Portland, OR • www.reachcdc.org/

RUPCO Kingston, NY • www.rupco.org/

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP Slayton, MN • www.swmhp.org/

TROY REHABILITATION & IMPROvEMENT PROGRAM Troy, NY • www.triponline.org/

WESTSIdE HOUSING ORGANIzATION Kansas City, MO • www.westsidehousing.org

St. Joseph's Carpenter Society residents help distribute hanging flower pots to beautify community.

www.selectmilwaukee.org/

www.swsol.org/

www.twincitiescdc.org/

www.unhs.org/

www.unitycouncil.org/

www.wehdc.org/

www.wsnhs.org

www.cambridgenahs.org

www.cdcli.org

www.communityhousingpartners.org/

www.chworks.org/

www.foundcom.org/

www.homewise.org/

www.hapec.org/

www.ndsohio.org/

www.nwwvt.org/

www.nwumpqua.org

www.nkcdc.org

www.reachcdc.org/

www.rupco.org

www.swmhp.org/

www.triponline.org/

www.westsidehousing.org


20Get iNVolVed!

organizations Going Greenif you are inspired to go deeper in pursuing green, NeighborWorks America is here to assist. You can learn more about our program and our organization’s commitment to sustainability at www.NeighborWorks.org/green. if you are a network member, visit the green member site at member.nw.org/programs/green. There you will find resource guides and other tools to help your organization meet the NeighborWorks Green Organization standards. You also can find information on how to sign up for the Green interest Group, which allows you to receive monthly newsletters from the Green Strategies team about funding and training opportunities, and updates on the program and its activities.

At our NeighborWorks Training institutes, we offer many courses to help you become a recognized expert on green issues. When registering for courses, be sure to look for the green leaf logo. Additionally, Green Strategies hosts annual forums for NeighborWorks organizations and other partners; sponsors gatherings honoring newly designated NeighborWorks Green Organizations; and provides resources, technical assistance, advice and workshops on important green topics relevant to your organization’s work.

Most importantly, if you are interested in going green, please contact us! Our resources and partnerships with external groups are meant to help your organization do green better and we are here to support you.

Corporations & foundationsit takes a web of interlocking partners to develop and sustain safe, healthy and vibrant communities. None of us can do it alone. That is why one of our core competencies is forging creative collaborations that match our assets with the strenghts of others to maximize the benefits for the families and communities we all serve. Join us today!

Contact

Clare Rosenberger

Senior Manager, Green Strategies, NeighborWorks® America

[email protected] • 202-524-9958

For 35 years, NeighborWorks® America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

NeighborWorks® America • 999 North Capitol St. NE, Suite 900 • Washington, DC 20002 800-438-5547 (phone) 800-834-3758 (fax) • www.neighborworks.org

AbOvE LEFT: A Community Concepts property gets final touches with installation of siding.

TOP: Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. community resident, Beverly Markham, volunteers at local community garden, often helped by her grandson.

SEcOND TOP: Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven uses green cleaning supplies.

ThiRD: Paul Poston community garden of New Directions Housing Corp. provides much needed food to residents in food desert area.

bOTTOM: Community Housing Initiatives board members and staff plant new trees.

www.NeighborWorks.org/green

member.nw.org/programs/green/Pages/default.aspx

mailto:[email protected]

www.neighborworks.org