William Lockard, Charlie Famuliner, Eleanor Brown,
and Frank Lofurno CLICK HERE to see
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EPA and HUD Recognize HRHA for Energy Efficiency
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) have awarded Hampton
Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) the
2009 Regional ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence
in Affordable Housing in recognition of its
efforts to provide energy-efficient housing for
low-income residents. HRHA was recognized at an
awards ceremony on April 14th at 1:30
pm at one of the energy–efficient homes located
at 320 Union Street, Hampton.
“I am very pleased that our staff
members are being recognized for their efforts
to build energy efficient homes,” said Frank
Lofurno, Executive Director of the Hampton
Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA). “In
addition to these efforts, we have supported
HUD's initiative to utilize ENERGY STAR products
in all of our renovations and improvements to
our residential communities.”
Since 2001, HRHA built 58
single-family homes for low and moderate income
families and has incorporated energy efficiency
including Energy Star features of effective
insulation, high performance windows and doors,
air sealing, efficient duct systems, efficient
heating and cooling systems, qualified
appliances, advanced lighting packages and water
saving water closets, shower heads, faucets, and
aerators which exceed the federal utility
conservation measures. While the additional
construction expense of $4,644 per unit
increases the cost per unit by 3%, the homebuyer
saves $657 annually resulting in a break-even
point of slightly more than seven years.
“The Green Initiative has been a
priority for our Board of Commissioners here in
Hampton, added Bill Lockard, Director of
Construction for the Housing Authority. “As
HRHA explores the possibilities of expanding
energy conservation measures in our homes, we
will continue to emphasize that ‘a green home
begins with Energy Star blue’.”
ENERGY STAR Awards are given to a variety of
organizations to recognize their contribution to the
construction and rehabilitation of energy-efficient
homes that benefit the environment, while providing
homeowners with a quieter, more comfortable home,
along with significant utility savings. Award
winners are selected from more than 12,000
organizations that participate in the
ENERGY STAR
program.
Last year alone, Americans with the help of ENERGY
STAR saved over $16 billion on their energy bills
and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to
the emissions of 27 million vehicles.
”Energy efficiency is important in every community,”
said Bill Miles, Field Office Director of the HUD
Richmond Office. “Partners like HRHA are helping
bring the benefits of ENERGY STAR and energy
efficiency to everyone. With an energy efficient
home, residents can rely on reduced utility bills,
and increased comfort and durability, all while
protecting the environment.”
HRHA, created in 1958, provides housing assistance
to 7,362 Hampton residents or 5% of the population.
They own and manage 521 units of public housing and
20 homeownership units. They administer 2,618
housing choice vouchers including 165 units for
veterans and 75 units for people with disabilities,
as well as various low income tax credit housing
projects and other housing units. Additionally, in
partnership with the City of Hampton, using HUD
Community Development Block Grant funds, they have
acquired over 500 blighted properties and have
constructed 192 wheelchair ramps and using HUD HOME
funding, they have provided grants to 352 low-income
homeowners to repair their homes.
ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers
energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and
help protect the environment for future generations.
More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR
partners committed to improving the energy
efficiency of products, homes, buildings and
businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR,
visit
www.energystar.gov or call toll-free
1-888-STAR-YES.
FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSES
June is
HOMEOWNERSHIP Month! Look at what HRHA is doing for the
city of Hampton!
June 1st & 2nd - VHDA
Homeownership Education Seminar 6pm-9pm
June 4th – Financial Wellness Seminar @
PROJECT N.O.W. 10am-2pm
June 9th – HRHA/VHDA Homebuyer Club
monthly meeting
June 15th – Financial Literacy Class
6pm-7:30pm
June 20th – HRHC Regional Housing Fair
10am-2pm
Please
contact Monique Jackson @ 727-1111 x 303 for information,
registration & other upcoming events!
We
have compiled a list of emergency resources
in our community. Please support these organizations with your
valuable time and donations.
BLENDING OLD AND NEW IN
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority is
in the midst of a downtown neighborhood
revitalization. For the past few years, HRHA
has worked with the City of Hampton to acquire
vacant lots and substandard structures in Olde
Hampton and Pasture Point. We recently began
construction of five new homes and two of these
homes are in the final stages of completion.
The architecture of the new homes is designed to
blend with the historical significance of the
existing homes and are located in one of the
oldest neighborhoods in Hampton.
The new homes represent the largest influx of
residential construction to come to this up and
coming neighborhood for years. The
sale of the new homes is another step toward the
revitalization of two Downtown neighborhoods
targeted by HRHA and the Hampton Housing
Venture.
Each home has over 1,500 SF of living space and
at least three bedrooms and two baths. The
first phase of homes will offer
a
homeownership opportunity for a low to moderate
income homebuyer. The home’s were appraised and
priced in the mid $170’s and can be made
substantially lower through incentives and
programs assisting qualified homebuyers with
down payment, closing costs and mortgage rate
reductions.
The next phase of development will be a mixture
of affordable housing and market rate housing in
Olde Hampton. This will include construction of
additional single family homes in late Spring.
We will also begin renovation of two existing
homes on Union Street. One of these homes has
been toured by staff from the State Historic
Preservation Office to give insight on
historical features that should be preserved.
This important work is interesting to anyone who is
looking for an affordable home, are a family
building a dream, or just interested in seeing well
designed, beautifully constructed homes. No matter
what your interest, please take time to drive
through Olde Hampton to see how HRHA opens doors to
new opportunities in Downtown Hampton.
Frank
Lofurno Elected SERC President At the SouthEastern Regional Council (SERC) Annual Meeting,
held on June 27th in Tunica, MS, Frank Lofurno, Executive
Director of HRHA was elected President of SERC for the
October, 2007 through September, 2009 term of office.
SERC
is the largest of the eight regions of NAHRO – the National
Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. There
are approximately 3,200 authorities across the country;
approximately one-third of these are located within SERC.
SERC
is comprised of 10 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Frank
has been involved with SERC since 1989 and has served on the
Executive Committee for the past eight years. As President,
he will continue to serve on the NAHRO Board of Governors.
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