Press Release: January 9th, 2024
Contact: Andrew Payton or Everett Brubaker
The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) is pleased to announce that we have awarded funds to several area non-profit organizations in support of our partnership with Community Housing Partners (CHP) Energy Solutions and its work providing no-cost weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades to area residents.
In late 2022 CAAV formed a coalition with several local organizations: Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalists (HUU), Shenandoah Valley Faith and Climate (SVFC), and 50by25 Harrisonburg (50by25). Our collective purpose was to help eligible homeowners and renters learn about weatherization and energy efficiency efforts in our area.
CHP Energy Solutions, the State designated non-profit Weatherization provider for the Shenandoah Valley, provides no-cost home energy improvements and upgrades for qualifying renters and homeowners. This year, CHP Energy Solutions completely weatherized all 112 affordable housing townhomes in Mosby Heights, along with dozens of area mobile homes, stick built homes, and apartments. However, awareness and adoption of programs locally remain low. To help increase awareness and local applications to CHP programs, HUU donated $3,500 to fund a pilot project with Harrisonburg non-profit Comité Salvadoreño Paisanos Unidos (COSPU). Since June 2023, COSPU has used the funding to promote these programs in the communities they serve, and several of their community members are set to receive improvements this year.
Based on the success with the initial pilot, CAAV is pleased to announce the distribution of additional funding totaling $35,500. After soliciting proposals from numerous area organizations who serve disadvantaged renters and homeowners, CAAV selected four organizations on November 29, 2023 to receive grant funding to connect their members with CHP Energy Solutions’ Programs. The organizations selected are:
- Comité Salvadoreño Paisanos Unidos (COSPU)
- Friendship Industries Inc/Able Solutions Inc
- United Way of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County
- Valley Program for Aging Services
From January through May, each organization will provide outreach to their clients to encourage and help them apply for CHP services. CAAV and CHP will provide training and guidance throughout the process.
“These collaborations are exciting for CAAV because home weatherization sits at the intersection of addressing climate issues, reducing energy bills, and improving health and safety in our community,” said Andrew Payton, chair of the steering committee of CAAV. “Collaborating with area organizations serving those most energy burdened is going to help connect more families to these opportunities and improve lives.”
CAAV congratulates the awardees.
For more information about CAAV or CHP, see:
https://climateactionallianceofthevalley.org/
https://www.communityhousingpartners.org/
https://www.cleanvirginia.org/
Contact Information:
Andrew Payton, CAAV (andrewdpayton@gmail.com / 301-814-1374)
Everett Brubaker, CHP Energy Solutions (everett.brubaker@chpc2.org / 540 662 3289)
PDF version of this press release is here.