WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today NeighborWorks America awarded 16 community organizations within its network a green designation, NeighborWorks Green Organization, based on a measurement of green business practices across their operations and all of their program areas. These organizations create a sustainable business culture and produce benefits to thousands of families through their homeowner education, housing development activities, and community engagement programs. These activities help reduce energy consumption and costs, create healthier living and working environments, and promote sustainable communities. This is the first time NeighborWorks has recognized organizations for creating healthier, energy efficient environments.
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 235 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The recognized organizations are members of the NeighborWorks network and are the following:
- Cambridge Neighborhood Apartment & Housing Services, Inc. (MA)
- Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc. (NY)
- Community Housing Partners Corporation (VA)
- Community HousingWorks (CA)
- Foundation Communities (TX)
- Homewise, Inc. (NM)
- Housing Assistance Program of Essex County, Inc. (NY)
- Neighborhood Development Services (OH)
- NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (VT)
- NeighborWorks Umpqua (OR)
- New Kensington Community Development Corporation (PA)
- REACH Community Development, Inc. (OR)
- Rural Ulster Preservation Company, Inc. (NY)
- Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (MN)
- Troy Rehabilitation & Improvement Program, Inc. (NY)
- Westside Housing Organization, Inc. (MO)
"These exemplary community development organizations are taking the lead to make the families, homes and communities they serve healthier and more sustainable," said Eileen Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America. "In achieving our green designation, these organizations prove that green business practices are good for business, for family budgets and for community improvement."
NeighborWorks America's goal is to have at least two-thirds of the NeighborWorks network receive a green designation by 2016. Among the many results of this comprehensive program, more than 100,000 residents in NeighborWorks rental properties would have better information on managing healthy, energy-conscious homes; and more than 25,000 low- and moderate-income families annually would possess the knowledge and skills to assess the homes they are buying for green, healthy features.
NeighborWorks network organizations have been leaders in adopting green practices with individual programs and projects for years, and some have gone the next step to successfully transform themselves into comprehensive, sustainable, green organizations by adopting green practices in multiple program areas and in their overall management approach. Since 2008 with the launch of its initial Green Strategy, NeighborWorks America has supported network organizations in these efforts by conducting sustainability audits, funding green development and rehabilitation projects, incorporating green topics into homebuyer education guides, 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 http://nw.org/network/neighborworksprogs/multifamily/GreenPrograms.asp.
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.
The NeighborWorks America logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=15144