“Impression by means of Infrastructure” – Whereas succinct, these phrases encapsulate Sol Techniques’ dedication to driving optimistic societal impression. They’re a name to motion – a mission to empower and elevate the communities we function a part of an equitable transition to a sustainable vitality future. This effort is rooted in Sol Techniques’ engagement with native leaders and companions to foster an method to sustainable infrastructure that pairs photo voltaic vitality tasks with long-term investments in ecosystems and communities disproportionately impacted by local weather change.
On this version of our Infrastructure + Impression Highlight Sequence, we pay homage to our companion, SOME, an interfaith community-based service group whose mission is to interrupt the cycle of poverty and homelessness by means of packages and companies that assist remodel lives of people and households, their communities, and the techniques and buildings that have an effect on them. Every day, SOME strives to revive hope and dignity one individual at a time by means of its built-in “Entire Particular person Care” method. What started as a lunch line on the nook of North Capitol and Ok Avenue greater than 50 years in the past has flourished into an esteemed chief for inexpensive housing, healthcare, rehabilitative companies, training, employment coaching, and meals safety all through Washington, D.C.
SOME is actively redefining inexpensive housing within the District by making a secure basis the place its residents can discover their potential. SOME gives transitional housing packages for these incomes 30% or much less of the Household Median Revenue ($38,700 for a household of 4 as of 2021) whereas guaranteeing that residents progress by educating them to create budgets, monetary targets, and sustainable fee plans. Since opening its first transitional housing program in 1986, SOME now operates a portfolio of over 1,300 inexpensive housing items for single adults, households, and senior residents, making ready them for homeownership or market-rate rents by means of a step-by-step course of.
Take the Bonner Household, for instance. Their time residing in SOME’s two-year accelerated housing program helped them make nice strides. Throughout the pandemic, with this system’s assist, the Bonners saved over $14,000 in housing prices and greater than $800 in emergency financial savings, all whereas paying off their bank card debt and constructing a powerful credit score rating, permitting them to maneuver into a brand new house within the District in 2022.
Picture credit score: The Bonner Household
This dynamic method to care is particularly vital in a metropolis like Washington, D.C., the place up to now twenty years, the variety of inexpensive housing items has decreased whereas the variety of high-cost housing items has multiplied. [1] The ensuing structural obstacles proceed to have an effect on low-income residents’ means to afford secure and wholesome housing, meals, and utilities, amongst different requirements.
It’s due to these realities that Sol Techniques stays dedicated to supporting group leaders like SOME to fill vital gaps by leveraging the advantages of sustainable infrastructure reminiscent of photo voltaic vitality, vitality effectivity and demanding house well being and security upgrades to drive optimistic environmental and group impacts past the carbon discount inherent in clear vitality. Within the spirit of this partnership, on Could 17th, 2022, Sol Techniques, FedEx, and SOME introduced a particular association that spreads the advantages of the Sol Techniques-developed 915 kW rooftop group photo voltaic mission on the FedEx Categorical Eckington Place facility even additional into the District. FedEx is allocating the invoice credit generated from the photo voltaic set up, together with a supplemental money donation, to SOME to offset the annual electrical energy prices at two of its amenities situated in Ward 5 – Weinberg Home, an inexpensive housing facility that’s house to twenty-eight households and Isaiah Home, house to a day program for homeless adults with extreme and chronic psychological sickness. Past this rapid impression, decreasing the vitality burden of those amenities will improve SOME’s means to dedicate further sources to initiatives that empower its shoppers to create long-term, sustainable change.
Sol Techniques’ dedication to under-resourced communities is a precedence shared by the management and employees. On April 20th, 2022, we joined SOME to rejoice Earth Day by engaged on beautification tasks at Zagami Home – certainly one of SOME’s housing websites the place Sol Techniques had beforehand made contributions towards HVAC and vitality environment friendly equipment upgrades. The tasks, which included planting of seasonal flowers, meeting of raised backyard beds, and mulching of playground areas revitalized Zagami’s grounds for residents to get pleasure from. Partnering with organizations like SOME exhibits how significant collaboration with communities can assist to deal with native challenges and be certain that all communities take part within the clear vitality financial system. To study extra about how SOME drives impression by means of significant group engagement, please go to SOME’s web site at: SOME.org.
[1] District of Columbia DHCD 2019
