Volunteers of America Oregon Awarded $1 Million to “Go Green”

Volunteers of America Oregon’s Whispering Pines Senior Village was successful in obtaining a $1,023,924 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to retrofit the 62-unit senior housing facility with green, energy-efficient measures.

Located in the rural community of Estacada, Whispering Pines Senior Village provides subsidized housing to low-income seniors. Planned improvements include installing a solar water heater system, interior and exterior compact fluorescent lighting, water-saving shower heads and faucets, upgrades to insulation and HVAC systems, and an energy-efficient coated roof. Whispering Pines will also implement a plan for green landscape and pest control practices. Work is slated to begin in the next sixty days.

“Buildings become obsolete when they no longer use energy efficiently,” said VOA Oregon’s interim Director of Senior Services, Greg Meenahan, “but with these new energy-saving measures, we’ll be able to operate Whispering Pines more efficiently and ensure that this building will be able to serve the next generation of seniors.”

Volunteers of America Oregon has long been committed to operating its programs in an environmentally-friendly manner, a commitment Whispering Pines Senior Village takes seriously. Currently, it uses low-VOC flooring and paint, and all future upgrades and replacements will be made with recycled materials whenever possible; low-flow water devices and toilets; and ENERGY STAR appliances, windows, and roofing.

Two other Oregon affordable housing complexes were awarded HUD grants for the same purpose. REACH Community Development received $258,426 for the Powell Boulevard Apartments in Portland, and the Salem Housing Authority secured a $730,092 grant for the Englewood East complex. “Thanks to these grants and the good work of our partners," said HUD Regional Director Mary McBride, "energy costs will be reduced, residents will be more comfortable, the buildings' useful life will be extended, our carbon footprint will be smaller and out-of-work or underemployed trades people will be put back to work.”

The HUD Green Retrofit program was created by the Recovery Act of 2009 and has provided more than $250 million in grants across the country for energy and green retrofitting in assisted, multi-family housing stock to reduce energy costs and water use, improve indoor air quality and provide other environmental benefits.

September 27, 2010

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Greg Meenahan, 503-595-2001 gmeenahan@voaor.org

For 114 years, Volunteers of America Oregon has been there for those who need us most. From at-risk youth to victims of domestic violence, from the recovering addicts to the frail elderly, we provide a range of supportive and empowering services to our area’s most vulnerable populations - and work with them to rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. For more information about Volunteers of America Oregon, visit www.voaor.org