NeighborWorks America introduces second round of designees to 'Green Organization' program

Program recognizes organizations with sustainable business practices that save money, improve lives for low- and moderate-income families

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty-six nonprofits were recognized today for their excellence in sustainable business and housing practices by NeighborWorks America, which recognized them as "NeighborWorks Green Organizations."

This is the second annual round of designations for the NeighborWorks Green Organization program, which celebrates affordable-housing nonprofits that have shown a comprehensive commitment to sustainable operations. The program reflects NeighborWorks America's five-year strategic goal to "green" member organizations. To date, 42 network members have earned the designation. Together, these green organizations demonstrate that when sustainable practices are comprehensively applied, people are healthier, homes are more affordable, communities thrive, and organizations are more prepared for the future.

NeighborWorks America, which creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities, supports a network of more than 240 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The newly designated green organizations are members of the NeighborWorks network:

• Aeon (MN)
• Arbor Housing and Development (NY)
• Asian Americans for Equality, Inc. (NY)
• BCL of Texas (TX)
• DHIC, Inc. (NC)
• Homeport (OH)
• Home HeadQuarters, Inc. (NY)
• Hudson River Housing, Inc. (NY)
• Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (NY)
• Kennebec Valley CAP (ME)
• Knox Housing Partnership (TN)
• Mid Central Community Action (IL)
• Montgomery Housing Partnership (MD)
• Mutual Housing California (CA)
• National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund (DE)
• Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services (CA)
• PathStone (NY)
• The Primavera Foundation, Inc. (AZ)
• RuralEdge (VT)
• Select Milwaukee (WI)
• Southwest Solutions (MI)
• Twin Cities CDC (MA)
• West Elmwood HDC (RI)
• West Side NHS (NY)
• UNHS NeighborWorks HOC (NY)
• The Unity Council (CA)

"Green strategies improve people's lives by saving them money and improving their health and quality of life," said Eileen M. Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America. "In receiving NeighborWorks America's green designation, these organizations show that green business practices are a triple win for business, family budgets and community improvement."

The first 42 NeighborWorks green organizations together own more than 32,000 affordable apartments and have built or rehabilitated more than 3,000 green rental and for-sale homes in the past two years. Through programs that provide education and counseling to future and existing homebuyers, these organizations reach 8,000 families annually with information they need to save energy, reduce costs and live in healthier homes. Since 2008, with the launch of its initial green agenda, NeighborWorks America has supported network organizations in these efforts by conducting sustainability audits, funding green development and rehabilitation projects, incorporating related topics into homebuyer-education guides and industry training courses, and producing resources such as the Greening Your Nonprofit from the Inside Out guide and Greening Your Organization course.

For more information about the green designation, go to nw.org/green.

For more information about NeighborWorks America, go to nw.org.

About NeighborWorks America
For nearly 35 years, NeighborWorks America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

SOURCE NeighborWorks America