Sinai-Grace Guild Community Development Corporation Weatherizes Homes For Low-Income Seniors

DETROIT — The Northwest Detroit Home Weatherization Program has successfully weatherized 11 homes owned by low-income seniors.

The program, run by the Sinai-Grace Guild Community Development Corporation, was able to accomplish this with a $50,000 2017 HUD Section 4 grant from Enterprise Community Partners. The Detroit Medical Center matched the $50,000 grant and SGGCDC partnered with Walker-Miller Energy Services.

At an average investment of $8,150 in each home, low-income seniors in the neighborhood surrounding DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital stand to save an estimated $300 annually. Each home had an average 2.36 home energy score increase.

“As a start-up non-profit, with limited knowledge regarding energy conservation and weatherization, Walker-Miller Energy Services was instrumental in explaining the array of programs to assist low-income customers with energy audits,” said Palencia Mobley, Sinai-Grace Guild CDC Board of Directors Vice President. “This allowed SGGCDC to invest more of the grant dollars in the weatherization improvements versus the assessment. The partnership with WMES has allowed us to be steadfast in our approach to the aging in place initiative for the senior citizens in our service area.”

In 2016, DMC made a 5-year commitment to support the organizational capacity and programs of SGGCDC, which has used the funding to hire personnel and provide match funding to grant awards from Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (ECP). Enterprise Community Partners has awarded SGGCDC four grants totaling $190,000 to date to develop a strategic framework, and support SGGCDC’s Aging in Place initiatives which include connecting older adults to a entrepreneurship program for active seniors to promote economic mobility in the community and a weatherization program for seniors in Northwest Detroit.

“We are happy to support the Sinai-Grace Guild CDC in executing their high impact senior weatherization program. It is particularly important in Detroit where the weather conditions can be extreme,” said Melinda Clemons, Enterprise Community Partners Vice President and Detroit Market Leader.

Ben Dueweke, Energy Engineer at Walker-Miller Energy Services, added, “This was a great project that directly supported our mission of 'empowering people and enriching communities.'  Our team is looking forward to future projects that leverage energy waste reduction as a tool to reduce the cost of overhead, and increase the level of health, safety, and comfort of residents."

The Sinai-Grace Guild Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit serving the Winship, College Park, Crary/St. Mary’s, Hubbell-Puritan, Belmont, Bethune, Harmony Village, and Schulze neighborhoods. Driven by our community residents, businesses, and leaders, the Sinai-Grace Guild Community Development Corporation is committed to holistic and equitable revitalization toward a thriving, healthy, and sustainable Northwest Detroit.

In December 2018, Lisa P. Jones became the Executive Director of the Sinai-Grace Guild CDC. Her work reflects the Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Revitalization Strategic Framework and continued conversations with residents, businesses, and community partners to implement a shared vision.