REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR CARRIÓN AND CONGRESSMAN ACKERMAN VISIT QUEENS SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AWARDED RECOVERY ACT FUNDS TO MODERNIZE
New York State to Receive More Than $18 million in Funding

NEW YORK - U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión joined Congressman Gary Ackerman to visit Selfhelp's senior housing development in Flushing, Queens that was awarded almost $1 million in Recovery Act funding to become more energy efficient and green. The award is part of HUD's new Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which saw
13 privately-owned developments across New York State receive almost $18 million in funding.

"This funding will not only improve the quality of life for these Selfhelp residents, but will lower energy costs and create jobs in the modernization of this development," said Carrión. "I wish to congratulate Stuart C. Kaplan, CEO
for Selfhelp, for receiving this award. This is an example of the kind of long-term, fundamental impact the Recovery Act is having on our economy through clean energy investments."

"Not only will these critical funds improve the quality of life for Selfhelp seniors, but they will also reduce energy
costs and create green jobs," said U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) who voted in favor of the stimulus bill. "Putting people to work while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint are the types of smart and efficient projects we should be investing in. I thank HUD for choosing our community for this critical project, and I am extremely pleased that our congressional district continues to reap the benefits of the stimulus bill."

Today's announcement is part of a major, national Recovery Act milestone: 100 percent of the program's $250
million in grants and loans was obligated by the September 30, 2010, statutory deadline, marking a significant achievement for a program that was created only eighteen months ago. In New York State 14 developments
were awarded $18,136,669 in Green Retrofit Program funding.

New York Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión

(left to right) New York State Assemblywoman Grace Meng; New York Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión; VP Real Estate Development at Selfhelp Evelyn Wolff; U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman; New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky; and, City Councilman Peter Woo

"Selfhelp is honored and excited to be the recipient of such a forward thinking grant. Our residents and the Flushing community will benefit both environmentally and economically from this funding and we are pleased to be able to partner with HUD, with the support of Congressman Ackerman to ensure swift implementation and completion," said Evelyn Wolff, Vice President of Real Estate Development at Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.

The project will create energy efficient upgrades in residents' units and in the building itself, incorporate green
policies and procedures, and create jobs for the work being completed. Additionally, the project will educate
property managers, superintendants, and maintenance staff, as well as the residents of the building on ways to improve residential quality of life. It will also lower the building's overall impact on the environment.

The Green Retrofit Program is designed to create thousands of green jobs as workers retrofit older federally assisted multi-family apartment developments with the next generation of energy efficient technologies. Grants and loans provided through this program help private landlords and property management companies to cut heating and air conditioning costs by installing more efficient heating and cooling systems, and to reduce water use by replacing faucets and toilets. These Recovery Act funds also produce other environmental benefits by encouraging the use
of recycled building materials, reflective roofing, and non-toxic products to reduce potentially harmful ‘off-gassing'
of harmful fumes. Funds are awarded to owners of HUD-assisted housing projects and can be used for a wide range
of retrofit activities, ranging from windows/doors to solar panels and geothermal installation.

The Recovery Act included $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of
which was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law.
The remaining 25 percent is being awarded through competitive grant programs, including the Green Retrofit
Program. To date, 100 percent of HUD's Recovery Act grant funds are in the hands of local communities, being
used to improve housing and neighborhoods, while creating jobs. HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act
investments swiftly and effectively as they generate tens of thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis.

A complete listing of New York grantees is below.

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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.