Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced new grants totaling $1,633,202 to be allocated to local homeless assistance programs in Louisiana. The new funds are to support four local projects that will offer needed housing and support to individuals and families over the lifetime of these grants.  The recipients of the grants are as follows:

• Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. Inc/Permanent Supportive Housing for Disabled Homeless Persons
• Easter Seals Louisiana/Integrated Community Engagement
• Rays of Sunshine/Sonshine Yellow House Project
• UNITY of Greater New Orleans/Home At Last

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The Enterprise Retrofit Audit Protocol will facilitate funding for retrofitting affordable housing by establishing a “baseline for metrics and disclosures in the analysis of green improvements.”

The protocol was developed by Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and CAS Financial Advisory Services.

In addition to financial considerations, the protocol requires underwriters to examine the health implications of proposed retrofits to residents and building maintenance workers, as well as to determine the property’s impact on the environment. The information generated can be used to evaluate which energy and water saving measures to use in an affordable housing retrofit.

for more information, visit hlnenergyservices.com/290/audit-protocol-standardization.html

HUD requests $150 million for a new Sustainable Communities Initiative to integrate transportation and housing planning in a way that maximizes choices for residents and businesses, lowers transportation costs and drives sustainable development efforts.

This investment reflects HUD's strong belief that housing is best developed "in context" of communities and regions, as proximity to transit, jobs, and retail amenities influence the long term success of both the housing and its occupants. Walkable, transit-oriented, mixed income communities substantially reduce transportation costs, create energy savings, and enhance access to employment and educational opportunities.

The initiative would be based around three central efforts.

First, the Initiative would dedicate $100 million for a regional planning effort to be jointly administered by HUD and DOT. Second, it would include $40 million in community challenge grants to entice metropolitan and local leaders to make market-shifting changes in local zoning and land-use rules and building codes. Finally, it would dedicate $10 million for a major research and evaluation effort that is jointly administered by DOT and HUD.

For more information, please visit p4sc.org/Excerpts_from_HUD_Budget.html