The Yonkers Housing Authority has received a $1 million federal grant that will allow it to build on the already substantial work it has done to address environmental justice in underserved communities in Southwest Yonkers.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection will fund a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the negative impact of climate change on historically disadvantaged low-income residents. These initiatives include adding green spaces to reduce flooding and combat the heat island effect that causes temperatures to rise in urban areas that have little shade and vast stretches of paved surfaces.

Key to the success of the project is creating jobs in the community that will allow residents to participate in implementing solutions to bring about change, said Wilson Kimball, President and CEO of the Yonkers Housing Authority.

“We are excited to continue the training and empowerment of residents at five affordable housing developments to facilitate community-led climate resilience action, education, and stewardship. The residents will promote environmental justice and integrate equity into the decision-making process,’’ said Kimball.

She added, “Working with the Family Service Society of Yonkers, we will work to get input of our residents to help shape the plan.”

Under the grant, YHA and the Mulford Corporation, Groundwork Hudson Valley and Family Service Society of Yonkers (FSSY), will undertake the projects at five properties. These are in addition to properties where work has already been done.

  • The Andrew Smith Townhouses at 91 Trenchard St. in the southeast part of the city.
  • The Judge Albert Fiorello Townhouses at 38 Clark St, Yonkers in Lincoln Park.
  • The Lawrence Christopher Townhouses at 350 Midland Ave. in Lincoln Park.
  • The Hon. A. J. Doran Sr. Townhouses at 27 Wrexham Rd. in Lawrence Park.
  • The Valentine Townhouses at 162 Helena Avenue in Colonial Heights.

The grant will continue the work already started with Groundwork Hudson Valley. In 2021, Groundwork Hudson Valley and the YHA received $2 million from The Bank of America Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation in a private public partnership aimed at reversing redlining and other policies that impacted underserved communities.

Research shows that people living in low-income areas are more vulnerable to climate risks due to historic redlining policies that left them in more environmentally hazardous neighborhoods.

The partnership between MHACY and Groundwork Hudson Valley is an outgrowth of a study that was released in 2021 that laid out a far-reaching plan for promoting environmental resiliency in one of the region’s largest affordable housing systems. The Hudson Valley region is expecting more intense rainfall over the next decade and many more heat waves due to climate change.

Please find a link to the study here: https://www.groundworkhv.org/2021/02/feasibility-study-for-green-infrastructure/