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| DHCR WeatherizationThe New York State Weatherization Assistance Program Plan for Program Year 2009 has $500,000,000…8 times its traditional allocation. NYAHMA has submitted an application to DHCR for Weatherization funds for Multifamily affordable housing properties in the HUD portfolio. While funding decisions have not been made, we would like to have a pipeline of HUD projects ready to use on available funds we are awarded or to submit for an additional allocation of funds from DHCR. So do not delay. Funding for the 2009-2010 Program Year For the 2008-2009 program year, New York received $61.9 million in program funds. In the current 2009-2010 Program Year New York allocated $104.7 million of funding for the Program. These amounts produce approximately 30% more work than Program Year 2008 funding allowed. Funding for the 2009-2011
Additionally, under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding Plan New York received an additional $394,686,513 from DOE in Recovery Act funds Funding for the 2009-2011 Program Years. THAT MEANS NEW YORK HAS $ 500,000,000 IN WEATHERIZATION FUNDS THIS YEAR... 8 TIMES ITS TRADITIONAL ALLOCATION. Of this amount, , 190,931,921 been allocated to subgrantees (In addition to $104.7 million allocated from traditional funding) by formula, and $50,000,000 be used to create a targeted multi-family initiative for affordable housing, and the remaining $65,000,000 will be used to created an incentive pool for subgrantees who successfully utilize formula allocations during the first year, The overall budget period for Recovery Act Funds will begin July 1, 2009 and end September 30, 2011. Traditional Allocation New York estimates that approximately 20,450 dwelling units, including 10,634 Multi-family rental units will be weatherized during Program Year 2009 based on the cost of materials, labor, and program support divided by the cost per unit. Recovery Act funds DHCR expects to weatherize an additional 45,000 dwelling units Recovery Act funds, of which 23,400 are targeted to be Multi-family rental housing. This number of units is based on the estimate of units to be completed by each subgrantee at an average cost per unit (CPU) of $6,500 (although it is estimated that multi-family units will typically have a lower average CPU). The purpose of the Weatherization Assistance Program is to install energy conservation measures in the homes of income-eligible persons, especially affordable multifamily housing, persons with disabilities, homes occupied by the elderly and children. Using Energy Conservation to Preserve Affordable Housing
DHCR is committed to ensuring that energy conservation services are provided to publicly-assisted housing as well as to private unsubsidized housing. A considerable number of low-income households in New York State live in public housing, privately-owned housing that was constructed or rehabilitated with public funds, and privately-owned housing receives other forms of public subsidy, such as rental assistance payments. Energy conservation work in publicly-assisted housing ensures that subsidized housing remains affordable and viable, by reducing tenant housing costs and owner operating costs. Targeted Multifamily Set-aside Approximately $50,000,000 will be reserved for assistance to targeted multifamily housing. Across the State, there are several individual portfolios of housing occupied by low-income households that have significant needs for energy assistance (such as, for example, HUD-assisted housing, certain housing reserved for special needs populations, and expiring-use tax credit (Low-Income Housing Credit) projects). Much of this housing consists of larger multifamily buildings and may require special expertise. This set-aside will be administered by temporary subgrantees (see below) or by existing subgrantees, in addition to the formula allocations. Type of Work Provided The work done in each unit is determined by a DOE-approved energy audit. Energy conservation measures funded through the program range from air sealing, to prevent infiltration of cold air and reduce drafts, to installation of insulation to significant repairs and modifications to heating systems in large apartment buildings.
Generally, this work consists of air sealing, insulation, heating system repairs, window or heating system replacement, electric base load reduction, and work items that mitigate energy-related health and safety concerns. Other than health and safety measures, only those measures with a savings-to-investment ratio of 1.0 or greater can be installed. In other words, the cost of installing energy conservation measures in a building must not exceed the savings that can be expected during the normal life of the installed work Repair work will include the following measures: water heater repair/replacement, roof repair/replacement (when necessary to protect insulation that has previously been installed or 2009 is proposed as part of the work scope for the unit), minor incidental repair measures to the heated envelope, chimney liners or repairs, lighting fixture replacement, venting systems, heating distribution system repair/replacement, installation of ground fault interrupt circuit outlets, electrical service upgrade, and replacement of unsafe heating systems encountered in the course of performing weatherization (however, emergency heating system replacement during the heating season is the responsibility of the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, except in response to a natural disaster). New York also encourages refrigerator replacement as a component of their weatherization program. Priority Projects
In an effort to increase the chances for the NYAHMA portfolio to be funded it is important to distinguish the scope of work we will seek from other portfolios in addition to the strength our portfolio brings from both the affordable housing served and the financial leveraging discussed below. Therefore NYAHMA will prioritize those projects that seek weatherization OTHER THAN window, boiler or roof replacement as those disciplines are both time-consuming to implement and will have labor and or material shortages as a result of the significant increaser in Weatherization funding which needs to be spent in a short period of time. Rather, NYAHMA priority pre-selected projects will be those that indicate a desire for Weatherization Funding for high savings-to-investment ratios. These items include but are not limited to: electric base load reduction, lighting fixture replacement, air sealing, installation of ground fault interrupt circuit outlets, electrical service upgrade and modifications to heating system. Population to Be Served The income-eligibility guidelines are set at 60% of the State’s Median income level. One of the great benefits for the Weatherization Program funding the HUD portfolio is by prioritizing the HUD insured and assisted projects is that the time-consuming effort of confirming that at least 50% of tenants have incomes of 60% of AMI or less is eliminated. This greatly expedites the process. Financial Leverage
Owners are required to invest in the cost of the weatherization services provided to their buildings. The minimum investment that owners must provide is 25% for buildings with fewer than 50 units, and 35% for buildings with 50 units or more. One of the great benefits for the Weatherization Program funding the HUD portfolio is by prioritizing the HUD insured and assisted projects is eliminating the time-consuming effort of negotiating financial leveraging agreements. We fully anticipate that the NY HUD office will authorize Reserve For Replacement releases to fulfill the leveraging match. Cost Per Unit The Statewide average per unit cost for the DOE funds for Program Year 2009 will be $4,500 and $6,500 under Recovery Act Funds... Subgrantee Allocation Method New York relies on a network of 64 subgrantees that provide program services in each of the State’s 62 counties. Subgrantees provide energy conservation services through their own trained crews and by subcontracting work to local contractors. Energy conservation measures funded through the program range from air sealing, to prevent infiltration of cold air and reduce drafts, to installation of insulation to significant repairs and modifications to heating systems in large apartment buildings. In the past many subgrantees have indicated that they do not have sufficient funds or technical expertise to undertake major multi-family housing projects in their areas. Each year, DHCR reserves a pool of funds and provides additional technical assistance to subgrantees to coordinate energy conservation and other rehabilitation assistance in multi-family and other assisted housing projects that are experiencing high energy costs. This funding is made available on a competitive basis in response to an Invitation for Proposals that is issued during the Program Year. Sources of Labor
New York contracts with subgrantees to deliver the program services at the local level. These subgrantees have various systems in place to provide weatherization in their service areas. All subgrantees use in-house staff for some components of the program such as outreach, energy auditing, and air sealing, or pre- and post-inspection. Many subgrantees use local subcontractors to perform some of the basic weatherization work, such as attic insulation, sidewall insulation, and window installation. Most subgrantees use subcontractors for heating system work, however, several subgrantees use in-house staff for heating system work. NYAHMA PRE-SELECTION INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
Information on the WAP can be found on the DHCR Web site at: Information on the Weatherization Recovery Act Funding Plan can be found at: The WAP Multifamily Program Fact Sheet can be found at: The first step in applying for Weatherization funding is to contact your LWAP. For more information, go to: |
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