“Impression by means of Infrastructure” – Whereas succinct, these phrases encapsulate Sol Methods’ dedication to driving optimistic societal affect. 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 Methods’ engagement with native leaders and companions to foster an method to sustainable infrastructure that pairs photo voltaic vitality initiatives with long-term investments in ecosystems and communities disproportionately impacted by local weather change.
On this version of our Infrastructure + Impression Highlight Collection, we pay homage to our accomplice, SOME, an interfaith community-based service group whose mission is to interrupt the cycle of poverty and homelessness by means of packages and providers that assist remodel lives of people and households, their communities, and the methods 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 “Complete Individual Care” method. What started as a lunch line on the nook of North Capitol and Okay Road greater than 50 years in the past has flourished into an esteemed chief for inexpensive housing, healthcare, rehabilitative providers, training, employment coaching, and meals safety all through Washington, D.C.
SOME is actively redefining inexpensive housing within the District by making a steady 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 instructing 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 models for single adults, households, and senior residents, getting 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. In the course of 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 dwelling within the District in 2022.
Picture credit score: The Bonner Household
This dynamic method to care is very essential in a metropolis like Washington, D.C., the place up to now 20 years, the variety of inexpensive housing models has decreased whereas the variety of high-cost housing models has multiplied. [1] The ensuing structural boundaries proceed to have an effect on low-income residents’ capacity to afford secure and wholesome housing, meals, and utilities, amongst different requirements.
It’s due to these realities that Sol Methods stays dedicated to supporting group leaders like SOME to fill essential gaps by leveraging the advantages of sustainable infrastructure comparable to photo voltaic vitality, vitality effectivity and significant dwelling 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 Methods, FedEx, and SOME introduced a particular association that spreads the advantages of the Sol Methods-developed 915 kW rooftop group photo voltaic challenge on the FedEx Specific 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 dwelling to twenty-eight households and Isaiah Home, dwelling to a day program for homeless adults with extreme and protracted psychological sickness. Past this fast affect, lowering the vitality burden of those amenities will improve SOME’s capacity to dedicate extra assets to initiatives that empower its shoppers to create long-term, sustainable change.
Sol Methods’ dedication to under-resourced communities is a precedence shared by the management and workers. On April 20th, 2022, we joined SOME to rejoice Earth Day by engaged on beautification initiatives at Zagami Home – one among SOME’s housing websites the place Sol Methods had beforehand made contributions towards HVAC and vitality environment friendly equipment upgrades. The initiatives, which included planting of seasonal flowers, meeting of raised backyard beds, and mulching of playground areas revitalized Zagami’s grounds for residents to take pleasure in. Partnering with organizations like SOME exhibits how significant collaboration with communities can assist to sort out native challenges and make sure that all communities take part within the clear vitality economic system. To be taught extra about how SOME drives affect by means of significant group engagement, please go to SOME’s web site at: SOME.org.
[1] District of Columbia DHCD 2019
