Sustainable & Healthy Homes

A safe and affordable home is a key component of a healthy life. That’s why SAHF works to increase the production, preservation, and operation of environmentally sustainable housing as part of a holistic approach to residents’ health. Through SAHF’s work, we work to ensure that affordable housing providers are equipped with the tools to:

  • Implement building design and materials best practices that have a positive impact on residents' health and well-being.
  • Center residents' agency in building design and operations by soliciting resident feedback and applying greater accountability mechanisms
  • Promote health equity and positive health outcomes by increasing access to resources such as exercise spaces and healthy food

 

Related Resources

Paloma Garden Case Study

Health Action Plans as a Path to Healthier Housing

View The Case Study

See more Resources for Healthy Homes

Related Updates

  • Centering Residents, Decarbonization, Healthy Homes

    Centering Residents in Building Decisions

    As affordable housing providers strive to become more inclusive and person-centered, over the past year SAHF member, Community Housing Partners (CHP), explored new ways to deepen engagement with residents before, during and after a major rehabilitation at a 78-unit affordable townhome community in Blacksburg, Virginia. CHP applied SAHF’s resident benefits framework to focus on the benefits of building upgrades and to conscientiously involve residents as key partners in the decision-making process. While doing this in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic had its challenges, CHP learned many valuable engagement strategies and lessons during this experience. These lessons are highlighted in SAHF’s Centering Residents in Building Decisions case study.

  • Healthy Homes, Decarbonization, Policy

    National Affordable Housing Collaborative Achieves Its Ambitious Environmental Goals

    SAHF publishes the Big Reach Report highlighting a seven-year initiative that a collaborative of 13 mission-driven, nonprofit housing providers pursued to reduce portfolio-wide energy and water consumption by 20% by 2020 and to advance environmental sustainability in multifamily affordable housing.

  • Healthy Homes, Decarbonization, Health & Housing

    Health at Home During COVID-19 and Beyond

    SAHF and its members understand that a stable home can support both physical and mental health. From indoor air quality to the ability to control your own home environment and life choices, where you live can be a pillar or a barrier to well-being.

  • Decarbonization, Healthy Homes, Impact

    DOE and HUD Recognize Two SAHF Members as Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achievers

    At the 2020 Better Buildings Summit, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognized Stewards of Affordable Housing of the Future (SAHF) members Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Mercy Housing as Better Buildings Goal Achievers. With this year’s recognition, POAH and Mercy Housing are the first multi-state nonprofit affordable housing providers to achieve their BBC goals of reducing portfolio-wide energy consumption by 20%.