Mutual Housing California: Transforming Lives and Building Community
Cool Davis welcomes Mutual Housing California, through its local affiliate Mutual Housing Yolo, as its latest coalition partner. For more than 25 years, the nonprofit organization, which provides housing for low wage workers and their families, has been “bridging the green divide” by bringing solar power and more to residents of its multi-family communities in Davis, Woodland and Sacramento.
Energy Efficient Housing
For example, tracking software at its New Harmony Mutual Housing Community in Davis showed that its photo-voltaic system generated 439,028 kilowatt-hours between 2013, when it was installed, and mid-2015. It saved the equivalent of 32,336 barrels of oil to produce this much electricity. Annually, Mutual Housing California’s solar panels on its five housing communities in Davis produce a total of 675,000 kilowatt-hours of energy, helping the environment, the residents, and the nonprofit.
In 2015, the organization opened Mutual Housing at Spring Lake, its first development dedicated to providing homes for local farm workers. Located in Woodland, Mutual Housing at Spring Lake is the first certified zero-net energy ready rental housing in the nation. It was designed so that residents could forgo energy bills and pay PG&E just a monthly $5 monthly administrative fee.
All of Mutual Housing’s newest communities incorporate high-performance insulation systems for enhanced quiet and comfort, fresh air systems for healthier indoor air, high-efficiency appliances, and advanced lighting technology and innovative heating and cooling systems for energy and water savings.
Also, all properties are operated by Mutual Housing’s own management teams that keep the green theme going with green cleaning products, while the organization pursues on-going efforts to retrofit their older buildings with updated systems similar to those in their newest communities.
As Anne-Marie Flynn, Director of Resource Development, states, “Greening our communities is good business – saving our residents and our organization money in the long-run.”
Safe, affordable housing for the most vulnerable
But there is much more to Mutual Housing: Anne-Marie Flynn explains, “While its environment efforts are important, Mutual Housing’s critical work is to provide safe, affordable homes for the most vulnerable in our communities, including families with modest budgets, the elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals and their families.”
Once residents are housed, the staff at every one of its communities works to get to know all residents personally. Through leadership programs, the staff helps residents to find their strengths, get to know each other, and become contributing members of the community.
As Anne-Marie explains, “When problems arise, staff know everyone and can help find solutions.
Residents in our Mutual Housing communities feel safe and come to appreciate living in strong, peaceful communities.”
It is not surprising that Mutual Housing California has received grants, awards, and accolades locally and across the country for its work. Cool Davis is pleased to have the organization become a partner and member of the Cool Davis coalition.
FACEBOOK FEED
Share your vision for climate as part of the 2030 Climate Action and Adaptation (CAAP) planning process. Drop in before or during 2nd Friday ArtAbout between 4pm and 7pm Friday December 8 at Davis Odd Fellows 415 Second St Davis. Together we can create a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable home for everyone in Yolo County!
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Questions? Contact sustainability@yolocounty.org
More info? visit: YoloCAAP.org
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Driven by public input, the CAAP will include recommendations for how we can lower emissions, protect our natural resources, use more renewable energy, support the sustainable agricultural practices t...
Move your money to a credit union or ethical bank! Credit unions usually donate to projects that strengthen local communities, and ethical banks make a commitment to support good causes. Green America Bank For Good BankTrack and Mighty Deposits are all great resources to find ethical banks!
LEARN MORE with Cathy Becker of Green America, Wednesday, November 15 at 6pm PST online. Our moderator will be Rekha Vaitla, Cool Davis board member and officer at CalSTRS.
Sign up here: www.cooldavis.org/2023/11/02/green-finances-banking-and-credit-cards-panel-yolo-earth-day-pledge/
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