$14.5 Million HUD Grant Fuels Green Upgrades at Countryside Village

Countryside Village, a 562-resident community in Humble, Texas, will replace gas-driven appliances, water heating and air conditioning systems with all-electric, green technology, thanks to a $14.5 million federal grant.

The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), which awarded $279 million to more than 40 properties in 23 states in October during its final round of funding.

Countryside Village, last renovated in 2013, will install electric clothes washers, heat pump-powered clothes dryers and water heating systems, induction ranges and LED lighting. Solar panels will go in atop roofs and carports.

Residents at Countryside celebrated the grant with representatives of HUD on Oct. 25.

“Thanks to this HUD grant, we will boost the health and quality of life for our residents at Countryside Village,” said Tim Kohut, director of sustainability. “This grant will eliminate the toxins that accompany natural gas, while reducing our reliance on scarce resources and lowering utility costs.”

Countryside Village’s residents live in a mix of 182 single-level apartments, multi-floor townhomes and duplexes. The community is 66% female and 88% African American. Residents earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income (AMI).

“Too often, technological advancements bypass our most vulnerable communities,” Kohut said. “But grants like this one are working to change that. Many of our Countryside families include young children who deserve the healthiest and safest environments in which to grow.”

Next, National CORE will work with HUD and residents to determine the exact scope of the improvements.