Green Affordable Housing Policy Support
One of the strongest indicators that sustainable design, planning and development practices are poised to become the mainstream in the affordable housing and community development industry is the extent to which officials at all levels of government are incorporating green features into public policies. Enterprise is actively working with cities, states and the federal government on these efforts.- Check out our interactive map of state policies or find a plain text version.
- Find information on federal policies.
- Learn how the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria are a proven framework for public polices that advance green affordable housing.
- See how mayors around the country are advancing bold visions for making their cities sustainable.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
States are leading on green affordable housing. State housing agencies that administer the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which accounts for almost all newly rehabilitated and constructed rental apartments for low-income people, are increasingly encouraging and in some cases requiring developers to use sustainable practices in order to receive tax credits. Virtually every state now encourages some level of sustainable principles.
And some states are going green beyond the LIHTC program:
- Maine's State Housing Authority requires comprehensive green building criteria for virtually all its programs.
- Minnesota's Housing Finance Agency has integrated Enterprise Green Communities Criteria into its rental and single family initiatives.
- Washington state has adopted holistic Enterprise Green Communities Criteria for its affordable housing trust fund for developments receiving funding from the state’s capital budget. The trust fund has provided $420 million to create 26,500 affordable homes and supports 4,500 new homes every two years.
Resources
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Green Affordable Housing Policy Toolkit This roadmap for state and local governments describes methods to promote green affordable housing, processes for adopting new policies, and detailed guidance on implementation. Case studies identify innovative policy from Denver, Washington, D.C., Iowa, Minnesota and Washington. Each jurisdiction profiled has forged a unique but replicable path toward equitable and sustainable development. Use this to strengthen green affordable housing policy in your community. |
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Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods: Strategic Local Climate Solutions This web-based resource provides strategies, tips and tools for cities and counties to take immediate action on climate change through green building, including green affordable housing, green neighborhoods, and sustainable infrastructure. It's designed for communities considering making the first steps toward green as well as for those who want to take existing efforts to a new level, and details strategic actions that build support and assure steady progress. |
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Greener Policies, Smarter Plans This book details this national model that began before Minnesota Green Communities and continues today. It includes strong state and local leadership, an inclusive process that joins a diverse coalition of stakeholders and a clear, collective vision for sustainable development based on the Enterprise Green Communities framework |
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Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency There are multiple policies and programs that support energy efficiency and renewable energy, many of which are available to support affordable housing. An excellent resource is DSIRE (http://www.dsireusa.org/); the database for state incentives for renewables and efficiency. |