Garamendi presents $15M for Richmond affordable housing climate resilience

Richmond, CA—Congressman John Garamendi, representing California's 8th District, presented a federal funding check of $15,920,000 aimed at enhancing climate resilience and energy efficiency in affordable housing units in Richmond. The funds were provided under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP).

The Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) received the check for its Pullman Point low-income housing development consisting of 199 units. The allocated funds will focus on improving energy and water efficiency, generating renewable energy, reducing operational costs for housing, promoting green building materials, and making homes more resilient to climate hazards.

This financial support is part of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act established in 2022 to aid multifamily properties participating in HUD’s project-based rental assistance programs with energy efficiency and climate resiliency improvements.

“I am thrilled to support the Community Housing Development Corporation’s work to ensure our community’s access to resilient and affordable housing in the face of the ongoing climate crisis," Congressman Garamendi stated. "Today’s funding was made possible thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate history.”

Adrianne Todman from HUD emphasized that “HUD has awarded over $1.1 billion through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to modernize housing for families across the country as the climate crisis continues to affect our most vulnerable communities.”

Donald Gilmore, Executive Director of CHDC, expressed that “The GRRP award partnership with HUD is an investment that will help us succeed in solidifying the goal at the core of our mission - to address struggles finding safe, affordable housing options - while building resilience against climate impacts.”

Additionally, this funding aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aiming for 40% of federal investment benefits to reach disadvantaged communities impacted by pollution. To date, over $1.12 billion from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act has been directed towards making nearly 26,000 rental homes greener and safer for low-income households.