HUD Guidance Helps PHAs Address Extreme Heat
When Glenn Frey sang “The Heat Is On” back some 40 years ago, he must’ve had a crystal ball to observe the current weather patterns across the U.S. as of June 2024. With temperatures expected to soar to near, if not over, 100 degrees in the Midwest and East Coast this weekend, the heat definitely will be on for many families that are not equipped to handle the oppressive temperatures. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is taking steps to help address this situation.
HUD recently issued new guidance describing how HUD funding can be used to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat for public housing residents, particularly vulnerable seniors, infants and young children, and people with chronic medical conditions. The guidance informs public housing authorities (PHAs) that air conditioning is an eligible cost in the Public Housing program and identifies possible uses of Capital Funds and operating subsidies to provide air conditioning. HUD recommends that PHAs consider creating cooling spaces in common areas for residents (e.g., lobbies, community rooms or other non-dwelling spaces that could be made available to all residents). PHAs are permitted to retrofit enclosed dedicated spaces, such as community rooms, with air conditioning units to serve as cooling centers for their residents. This option may provide PHAs with a more cost-effective approach to providing relief to residents from extreme heat, without directly affecting the individual utility cost to residents.
“We must protect the health and safety of our families during increasingly severe weather events, like extreme heat, that can cause grave harm and even death to any member of our community,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “As we transition into the summer months, the need for public housing residents to access necessary cooling systems is vital and we are assertively taking these steps in the fight against extreme heat.”
In addition, Capital Funds can be used for complementary items that would improve cooling efficacy, such as weatherization, smart/adaptive thermostats and sensors, upgrades to electrical wiring and/or panels, evaluating and/or improving airflow, adding renewable energy generation, and installing more energy-efficient appliances to reduce overall energy loads. Weatherization is particularly important to consider, according to HUD, when adding cooling and refers to building improvements that reduce the energy used to make buildings more comfortable, including moisture control, air sealing, ventilation, and upgrades to insulation, doors and windows.
HUD strongly encourages PHAs that are considering a modernization program that includes installation of a new cooling system to first perform an energy audit to ensure that the most appropriate system is selected. PHAs must complete an energy audit for each PHA-owned project under management not less than once every five years (24 C.F.R. §965.302). PHAs may use Capital Funds for energy audits performed as part of a modernization program, where operating subsidy is not available (24 C.F.R. §905.200(b)(14)(i)).
Hopefully, the allowable use of funding air conditioning will help keep people safe during these dreadfully hot days. To quote another 80’s song reference from Power Station ― “Some Like it Hot” ― but we can’t say that for everyone.
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Federal Grants Forum | June 26-27, 2024 | Columbus, Ohio
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