Congressman Cohen Leads a Letter Urging HUD Secretary to Reinstate Green and Resilient Retrofit Program
Funding frozen for energy-efficient upgrades to housing
WASHINGTON – RealEstateRama – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) led a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner on Friday urging him to reverse the cancellation of contracts and the freezing of all funding associated with the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP). Congressman Cohen announced $5.2 million in GRRP funding for Wesley Stage Park in Memphis and $11.4 million for the Broadmeadow Apartments in Covington in March 2024.
Fifteen Congressional colleagues co-signed the letter.
The letter reads:
“We write to urge the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reverse the cancellation of contracts and freezing of all funding associated with the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP).
“The goal of the GRRP is to sustain the livability of buildings based on their age and to keep them viable for many years to come. The decision to no longer support this program will affect tens of thousands of low-income Americans.
“The Inflation Reduction Act established the GRRP to support essential upgrades at 25,000 housing sites, ensuring that residents have access to safe, energy efficient, and climate-resilient living conditions. The program has provided much-needed funds for floodproofing, insulation, and the replacement or repair of heating and cooling systems, which are improvements that are essential and reduce utility costs. These upgrades will also ensure long-term housing stability for up to an additional 20 years. Many of the program grant recipients also housed seniors in particular and the funding would help to dramatically improve their quality of life, as well as extend housing affordability for decades to come.
“Congress has appropriated the funds for the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, and we urge you to reinstate this program and distribute these funds accordingly.”
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