City Of Greenboro: Local Housing Repair Programs Awarded $1M HUD Grant To Streamline/Improve Services

Press release from the City of Greensboro:

10/18/2021 2:20 PM

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) $1 million to partner with City’s Lead-Safe Greensboro program. The goal: to implement a collaborative program that addresses housing issues of low-income families related to lead-based paint, healthy homes, and energy efficiency and weatherization.

The program, which is expected to launch in spring 2022, aims to reduce the burden on local residents trying to navigate the application, inspections/assessments, and intervention processes of multiple agencies for housing services.

PTRC’s partners include the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Center for Housing and Community Studies, NC A&T State University Center for Energy Research and Technology, North Carolina Justice Center, and NC Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Program.

“Regardless of the season, low-income families typically pay more than 14 percent of their annual income for home energy use,” says Michelle Kennedy, director of the City’s Neighborhood Development Department, which conducts the Lead-Safe Greensboro program. “There are often disconnects between the various resources available in the community to repair and weatherize homes. We know residents receive better, more stream-lined services when we work collaboratively.”

“There are often differences in the structure and eligibility of grant programs and a lack of consistent communications between providers,” she adds. “This new program should go a long way toward better coordination of services, reducing energy costs, and improving health and safety concerns for residents who need it most.”

This press release was produced by the City of Greensboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.