What's New at CHI

Community Housing Innovations Celebrates 20 Years
Software magnate turned energy independence crusader warns of economic crash without transportation fuel competition

November 21, 2011

What former Vice President Al Gore has done to sound the alarm about Global Warming, Eyal Aronoff hopes to do about America’s oil addiction and its link to economic disaster.  Like Gore, Aronoff makes a presentation that provides a new perspective on solving the problem.  He notes that while the media focuses on “alternative energy,” such as wind, solar, and nuclear, none of these technologies impact oil.

Aronoff discussed the price of gasoline as a cause of poverty and recession at Community Housing Innovations’ 20th anniversary luncheon on November 17th at 1 pm at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle.    His presentation had the audience in rapt attention.

“Oil is the dominant, nearly exclusive fuel in the transportation sector, where most pollution and greenhouse gases arise,” says Aronoff.  “The United States spends $30 billion dollars on coal but $500 billion on oil. So, which do you think is more important?”

Aronoff noted that about one month ago, the non-partisan Peterson Institute issued a paper that found that one million Americans were pushed into poverty by increased gasoline prices, representing one-third of the increase in the poverty rate from 14.3% to 15.1%.

Senator Suzi Oppenheimer  attended the event as a long time supporter of Community Housing Innovations and of affordable housing.  She spoke of the tremendous contribution that CHI has made in creating 600 units of affordable housing in Westchester and five other counties,  She also stressed that Westchester County is comprised of more than wealthy residents;  In fact ,one in five children in Westchester lives below the poverty  line.

The luncheon was the occason for honoring three individuals who have been valued supporters of CHI. The Hon. Nita Lowey was honored for her tenacious advocacy in assisting the middle and working classes to be protected from foreclosure due to the economic recession.   She has been a vigorous proponent of the Fast Track Loan ModificationTM events held by CHI, which counseled over 500 homeowners faced with foreclosure.  Over 100 participants in the Fast TrackTM program have received loan modifications enabling those homeowners to remain in their homes.

Also honored was Jamie Rapfogel of Birthday Wishes of Long Island.  Under her leadership, more than 160 children have celebrated their birthdays while in transitional housing.  The children’s and their parents have expressed their gratitude for having a celebration of the day they were born, adding a sense of self worth in a difficult time.

Carmine Lippolis was honored for his help in the formation of CHI Energy, a Con Edison Green Team partner working on energy savings for businesses and multifamily apartment buildings.  This program has allowed businesses to receive up to 100% annual rates of return on their investment.  Mr. Lippolis, as President of Lippolis Electric, has done nearly all of the lighting retrofits as a subcontractor of CHI Energy.

CHI, a nonprofit organization based in White Plains, is the largest provider of homeless housing outside of New York City and operates in six counties.  In addition to its work on homelessness, the agency gives free counseling to first time homebuyers and has administered $9 million in down payment assistance as Local Program Administrator for New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Its subsidiary, CHI Energy, has retrofitted over 100 businesses with new energy-efficient lighting as a Con Edison Green Team member.  CHI Energy is currently expanding its energy conservation services to include total facility energy reduction solutions.   This expanded program will address the exciting opportunities available with combined heat and power technologies.

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