The Leadership Conference and NAACP Applaud New Federal Loan Program to Increase Energy Efficiency and Lower Utility Costs

WASHINGTON—Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Hilary O. Shelton, Washington Bureau Director and Senior Vice President for Advocacy of the NAACP, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will now permit its borrowers to use the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to finance home improvements that increase energy efficiency and lower utility costs:

Wade Henderson, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

“This is a win-win for low-income homeowners and workers alike. Many low-income homeowners and homeowners of color utilize FHA loans, and this action will allow them to invest in their properties and save money. These programs also create jobs weatherizing homes that could provide ladders of opportunity to low-skill workers.”

Hilary O. Shelton, Washington Bureau Director and Senior Vice President for Advocacy of the NAACP
“These loans provide an important opportunity for families to improve their homes and save money, and we need to ensure they fully reach communities of color.” 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org .

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. For more information on the NAACP, visit www.NAACP.org.

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