ARRA Success - Bernalillo County Housing Authority

HUD's Recovery Act funds provided the Bernalillo County Housing Authority (BCHA) with an opportunity to promote energy efficiency in a public housing complex.

BCHA Xereiscape

BCHA located in Albuquerque, NM, has a Public Housing development consisting of 21 units for disabled individuals and families located in Albuquerque's South Valley called Seybold Village. Because Albuquerque is an arid, high-desert community the City is encouraging residents to transform their landscape from high water use plants, such as grass, to xeriscape.

Mandy Griego, Senior Public Housing Revitalization Specialist presents Betty Valdez, Executive Director of Bernalillo County Housing Authority with Certificate recognizing the BCHA for its rapid obligation and expenditure of ARRA funds

On March 18, 2009, the BCHA was awarded $44,560.00 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. BCHA felt that using the ARRA funds for xeriscaping would improve and update the appearance of the property and conserve water. BCHA staff met with all the families in the development and explained that xeriscaping would not only improve and update the appearance of the property, but also conserve water. The families agreed, and the Housing Authority decided that xeriscaping was how their ARRA funds would be used.

BCHA awarded a contract to Sunrise Landscaping, a local landscaping company since 1982 that employs seven individuals. The grass in the complex was removed and replaced with gravel, bushes, and plants. After the job was completed, Sunrise Landscaping assisted BCHA in applying for a rebate from the City of Albuquerque's Xeriscape Rebate Program. The Housing Authority received a credit for $6,000 from the City towards its water bill for the units.

The Bernalillo County Housing Authority has experienced a savings of more than $200 a month in its water bill for the public housing units at the Seybold Village, for an estimated annual savings of more than $2400.