HUD AWARDS $250,000 TO MICHIGAN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION TO BUILD 30 GREEN HOUSING UNITS IN ANN ARBOR

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that Washtenaw
County, Michigan is being awarded a $250,000 grant to produce 30 new affordable green rental units in Ann Arbor. The County will use Avalon Housing, Inc., an established community-based affordable housing developer, to create these new apartments which will feature a sustainable site design, water-conserving fixtures, energy-efficient appliances/lighting, and environmentally friendly building materials.

The funding announced today is awarded through HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), the
nation's largest block grant program to support the production of affordable housing.

"This grant will help to create a new generation of housing that will offer residents more than just an affordable home," said Mercedes Márquez, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. "Working with our partners at the local level, our goal is to produce more, smarter, and certainly greener affordable housing for future generations of families."

Washtenaw County and Avalon Housing, Inc. will build 39 new rental units in downtown Ann Arbor that will
specifically benefit families earning 50 percent or less of Area Median Income and 14 units to be reserved for special needs tenants. Upon completion, all assisted units will be certified as ENERGY STAR-qualified housing. ENERGY STAR housing units must meet guidelines for energy efficiency established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and are at least 15 percent more energy efficient. Washtenaw County will ensure that Avalon uses a sustainable
site design; installs water conserving fixtures, energy-efficient appliances and lighting; uses environmentally
beneficial materials and practices; implements a construction waste-management plan; uses low VOC paints and sealants and low-emitting formaldehyde composite wood; uses mold prevention techniques; and gives residents an instruction manual that provides information on how to maintain the Green features of their homes.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.