1. ARRA Resources for Weatherizing
Multifamily Housing:
A Unique Opportunity to Help Low Income Families
and Reduce Energy Consumption

2. The Good News…
From DOE Memorandum to Grantees:
“DOE wants grantees and subgrantees to increase their service
to renters…DOE anticipates a significant increase in the
number of rental dwelling units served by the WAP. If this does
not occur, DOE will revisit the issue and consider the imposition
of mandatory requirements to achieve the goal of this policy.”
Director,
Division of Weatherization Assistance Programs
U.S. Department of Energy
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

3. The Bad News…
From DOE Memorandum to Grantees:
“DOE wants grantees and subgrantees to increase their service
to renters…DOE anticipates a significant increase in the
number of rental dwelling units served by the WAP. If this does
not occur, DOE will revisit the issue and consider the imposition
of mandatory requirements to achieve the goal of this policy.”
Director,
Division of Weatherization Assistance Programs
U.S. Department of Energy
January 27, 1984
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

4. ARRA
Weatherization Overview
 Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) received $5
billion over three years, up from $250 million annually
 Statewide average expenditure limit per home is $6,500
 Households w/ incomes at or below 200% of poverty or
60% of state median income are eligible.
 All funds must be spent by March 2012
In a typical year, 15-20% of WAP units are multifamily, yet
one half of income eligible households are renters.*
*Source: American Housing Survey 2007
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

5. Many Factors Influence
WAP Implementation
 State Agency Level
May be unfamiliar with affordable housing programs
Set rules for multifamily and who to prioritize
 Local Provider Level
May be unfamiliar with multifamily housing programs/types
of affordable housing
Varying technical experience with multifamily buildings
Single-family wait lists
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

6. Multiple Eligibility
Requirements for Multifamily
 Household Income Level:
- At least 66% of units must be occupied by households with
incomes at 200% of poverty or less.
 No rent increases for reasonable period
 No excessive enhancement to the property’s value
 States may require landlord contribution
 Weatherization benefits must accrue to tenants
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

7. HUD-DOE Partnership
Streamlines Eligibility
Housing Income Eligibility Protection from Ensure Benefits
Program Rent Increases Accrue to
Tenants
Project-based HUD has Requirement met Up to states to set
Sec. 8, Public identified income if contract expires policy
Housing eligible properties in 3 yrs or beyond
LIHTC HUD/DOE Up to state or Same as above
working together local WA P
to identify income provider to
eligible properties determine
Sec. 515 RD has identified Up to state or Same as above
income eligible local WAP
properties provider to
determine
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

8. Multifamily Weatherization =
Direct Benefits to Tenants
 Reduction in tenant paid utilities
 Stable operating costs helps secure long-term affordability
 Improved comfort
 Property utility savings can be re-invested in the property
to provide enhanced resident services
 Leverage extended long-term affordability
DOE: State agencies can take into consideration benefits other than
reduced utility savings when ensuring benefits accrue to tenants.
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

9. State Approaches to Advancing
Multifamily Weatherization
State WAP agencies set aside $ for multifamily housing,
including subsidized housing
- Florida has allocated 20% for multifamily; Kansas set aside
25%; New York has set aside $50 million
Coordination with state housing finance agencies
- New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont state
HFAs have been allocated WAP $ for multifamily
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

10. State Approaches to Advancing
Multifamily Weatherization (con’t)
Encourage local providers to pursue multifamily properties
- Ohio and Oregon are urging local WAP providers to consider
multifamily applications
- Minnesota HFA developing partnerships with local providers
Do not require landlord contributions
- Kansas and Virginia have waived this requirement; Other states
give providers the discretion to waive this requirement on case by
case basis
Expanded definition of tenant benefit to include preservation
- Washington state
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

11. Rhode Island WAP
 Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources has partnered with
Rhode Island Housing to administer $6 million multifamily
program.
 Application deadline is April 26
 Funding priorities:
- Low-income elderly, disabled or families with children
- Developments in which tenants pay own utilities
- High energy burden households or properties w/ high costs
- Developments that will leverage additional resources
 Minimum of 15 years of affordability required
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

12. Massachusetts WAP
 MA Dept. of Housing and Community Development has set
aside $6 million for preservation properties with expiring
subsidies; currently nearly $1.3 million has been committed.
 $25 million for public housing properties
 No landlord contribution required.
 Local WAP providers are free to pursue multifamily properties
outside of the set asides, but many providers have long waiting
lists of single-family households.
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

13. Connecticut WAP
 Dept. of Social Services has allocated $20 m to the Dept. of
Economic and Community Dev. to weatherize state-financed
public housing.
 1st priority for elderly households who pay for heat directly.
 Landlord contribution requirement waived for state-financed
public housing.
 HUD assisted units may be weatherized based on funding
availability. Priority will be given to HUD units in which
residents pay for their heat.
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

14. Maine WAP
 MaineHousing is currently reviewing its multifamily policy.
 Proposing to limit the percentage of multifamily units
weatherized per year to the proportion of eligible consumers
living in multifamily housing in each county.
 Multifamily properties must have resident-paid utilities (without
utility allowances) to be eligible.
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

15. Vermont WAP
 Coordination between state WAP agency and VT Housing and
Conservation Board, VT HFA, and local WAP providers.
 Energy survey of owners to determine priority properties for
WAP and other funding.
 Identified 729 units in 89 properties to receive WAP services.
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

16. Going Forward…
 State advocacy is important- There are good examples of state
level coordination
 Partnering with local WAP providers important as well
 Must make the case that weatherizing affordable housing
benefits tenants
 How to apply Weatherization funds in LIHTC properties without
affecting eligible basis?
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

17. Resources
 Enterprise/National Housing Trust Partnership
 State and local best practices
 “Green Mini Loans”- eligible uses include third party
expenses needed to apply for federal stimulus funds
 nhtinc.org and enterprisecommunity.org
 Additional resources:
 DOE Multifamily Guidance/Lists of Income Eligible
Properties
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/eligibility_hud.cfm
WAPTAC.org
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing

18. For more information:
Todd Nedwick
National Housing Trust
 E-mail: tnedwick@nhtinc.org
 Address: 1101 30th St, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20007
 Phone: (202) 333-8931
 Web: www.nhtinc.org
National Housing Trust, Weatherizing Multifamily Housing