HUD Officials Highlight Climate Resilience Funding Opportunities in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

During a roundtable event, HUD officials shared information about the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to over 150 participants, showcasing a new source of federal funding for affordable housing rehabilitation focused on energy efficiency and climate resilience.

PUERTO RICO - This week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) hosted a bilingual roundtable about HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) for stakeholders in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The roundtable was attended by over 150 participants who learned about the GRRP and other federal funding sources for upgrading and renovating properties to become more energy efficient and climate resilient.

During the roundtable, HUD officials highlighted grant and loan funding opportunities under the GRRP and other federal agency sources from the Inflation Reduction Act that can help make multifamily properties participating in HUD project-based rental assistance programs around the nation more energy efficient, and more resilient against extreme weather events largely caused by climate change, while improving the homes of residents. Officials shared guidance and answered questions about the types of awards, eligibility requirements, and the funding application process.

A part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the Inflation Reduction Act established the GRRP in 2022 to support energy efficiency and climate resiliency for HUD’s assisted rental portfolio. To date, $544 million of GRRP funding has been awarded for projects across the nation – representing roughly 50 percent of available program funding. The awarded projects range from targeted upgrades to major net-zero renovations for 109 properties in 36 states and the District of Columbia, affecting over 12,500 homes.

“The Green and Resilient Retrofit Program is helping to improve properties and create more resilient communities for families across our nation,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Programs Ethan Handelman. “We are committed to creating safer and healthier homes for low-income residents and look forward to supporting more projects with funding through GRRP.”

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. The investments under the GRRP are being made in affordable housing communities serving low-income families, in alignment with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. GRRP funding is designed for properties of all sizes and retrofit needs, and can be used for insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, hurricane-resistance retrofits, heat-resistant roofs, energy efficient heating and cooling, renewable energy generation, and other energy-efficiency and resilience measures.

Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Background Detail

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

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