SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN INITIATIVES
As the leading national provider of housing and jobs for the homeless and others in need, HELP USA recognizes that creating a sustainable, "green" environment for its residents, and utilizing the most energy-efficient "green" technological advances in its real estate construction projects, is not a question of choice, but a necessity. Accordingly, HELP's real estate construction projects and ongoing job training and maintenance programs effectively incorporate a commitment to sustainability and green initiatives, demonstrating HELP's mission to improve the lives of Americans in this generation, as well as future generations.
HELP believes that everyone should have the opportunity to live and work in an environmentally safe atmosphere, have a job that provides a decent wage and opportunity for growth, access to nutritious food, and to live in a thriving sustainable community. Through our current maintenance, client programs, real estate and future efforts, HELP is proud to be on path to providing a thriving sustainable community for our clients and employees.
Real Estate Construction Projects
As HELP continues to expand its housing and supportive services across the country, HELP is committed to doing so in an environmentally conscious way. HELP's green real estate efforts are evident in the construction of HELP's residences, particularly new residential developments in Newark, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Brooklyn, New York. Each of these development projects has incorporated energy, water, and resource efficiency, sustainable lot and site development, and indoor environmental quality features such as construction and waste management.
HELP's Newark Genesis Apartments project is a ground-breaking "green" construction project, which is being developed as a result of a public-private partnership with Mr. Jon Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and will have 51 new units of affordable housing with support services for low-income and special-needs persons. It will include ground-breaking environmentally-friendly "green" features such as a green roof and other components of New Jersey's Green Future program. There will be a 2,500 square-foot community center as well. The building will meet the New Jersey "Green Future" standards as well as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Other key features include: erosion control; a green landscape plan; non toxic pest control; waste management; paints, carpets, sealants will be comprised low emitting materials; recycled carpet flooring; and "green" education and job training for residents.
In addition to its new construction efforts, HELP plans to conduct energy audits of existing sites in order to increase energy efficiency and reduce expenses. HELP's existing residential developments will need to implement many new sustainability features including insulation, new electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, roofs and other improvements designed to promote energy efficiency.
Green Job Training Programs
HELP also seeks to build more sustainable communities through the programs HELP provides for its clients. To meet the growing demand in the labor market, HELP is expanding its workforce development programs so that HELP clients will be included in the emerging "green jobs" employment sector. HELP is training its residents through "green job" training programs, and is participating in a pilot program with Sustainable South Bronx, where our clients will participate in a green job training program to be placed in green jobs.
This green job training program offers a variety of certifications for improving building performance through energy and other resource reduction measures-it is a comprehensive training and job-placement program for green jobs generated by greening buildings. The training program will include classroom sessions in technical and life skills as well as a hands-on-practical training. Ultimately, this program trains participants to retrofit buildings across New York City so that they are more energy-efficient.
The training program includes the following components: job readiness/life skills; mini-energy audits and energy updates of local, low-income apartment buildings; training/role playing to prep for customer relations; introduction to HVAC systems; solar PV training, introduction to insulation materials; green roof installation; introduction to building science; retrofit installation training; and lead awareness. All graduates of the training will receive certifications in OSHA 10-Hour Training, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training, Asbestos handling, Lead Awareness. HELP plans to participate in additional green job training partnerships and will also place HELP clients in jobs that will increase the energy efficiency of HELP's own residential buildings.
Organic Food and Garden Development
In addition to green job training and workforce development programs, HELP also believes that its residents should have access to healthy nutritious foods. HELP currently operate two community vegetable gardens at New Horizons in East New York, Brooklyn that are actively maintained for the shelter residents and the local community. HELP plans to create additional community gardens in our residential developments by greening our rooftops and creating gardens for tenants to harvest and provide fresh produce for the community.
Maintenance Efforts
HELP USA believes that every resident should have the opportunity to live in an environmentally safe atmosphere that incorporates new technologies to promote energy efficiency and cost savings. HELP uses green cleaning and janitorial treatment supplies and energy efficient light bulbs in the majority of our 29 sites across the country. HELP also has eliminated unnecessary paper waste by providing employees with a transit check option and implementing a virtual purchasing system. HELP New Horizons designed a recycling system in collaboration with the New York Department of Sanitation.
HELP has also developed a "green lifestyles training" program for residents as they move into their new homes. This program is designed to teach residents about the importance of and cost effectiveness of sustainable practices and living and how to maintain a green home. HELP also offers an environmentally friendly "welcome home" gift for residents who are moving into new homes and reclaiming their lives. HELP is also working to develop co-branded environmentally-friendly cleaning products to be sold by retailers and used within HELP's residences, with a percentage of proceeds going to support HELP's programs.
HELP believes that every resident should have the opportunity to live and work in an environmentally safe atmosphere, have a job that provides a livable wage with opportunities for growth, have access to nutritious food, and live in a thriving sustainable community. Through HELP's real estate, green job training, maintenance and other client programs, HELP provides a thriving sustainable community for its residents.
