Spring is here, and as temperatures rise, utility bills will increase to keep households cool in the warmer months. In rural areas, many older homes have massive energy burdens due to out-of-date appliances, air leakage, poor infrastructure, and other energy inefficiencies. Groundswell is revitalizing rural communities through energy-efficient upgrades with the Save on Utilities Long Term (SOUL™) program. An investment in energy efficiency is an investment in housing equity. Creating comfortable homes, and reducing the financial burden on households leads to thriving and sustainable communities.
Through SOUL™, Groundswell is working towards our mission of building community power, one household at a time. From start to finish of the housing upgrades, we ensure our values are at the core of every step. We view community engagement through the lens of integrity, respect, and reliability. Our Community Engagement Associate, Leon Childs, has established himself as a trusted figure in the community that people feel comfortable connecting with about housing upgrades. When asked what community engagement means to him, he said:
“When you say community engagement, you have to get out there in these communities with the people. You have to show them that you're not just out here trying to get over on them. You're not out here trying to hurt them. You have to make them understand that you're actually there to help them. And one of the best ways that you do that is that everything you say you're gonna do, you must do it.”
The lack of investment in rural communities — paired with economic and racial disparities — can lead to a distrust of outside organizations. Community engagement is not just a title for Leon, it's the way he interacts with each individual - using his lived experience and passion for equity to be a reliable source of information and support. Learn more about what community engagement means to Leon and the participants’ stories that have stuck with him in our new episode of The Groundswell Podcast.
It is essential to share these success stories because it reveals the necessity for rural housing equity investments. So far, SOUL has equipped more than 73 homes with upgrades that improve energy efficiency and quality of life for participants — supporting generational wealth building by enabling homes to be passed down to future generations. These repairs are not just for temporary comfort or economic relief, it is an investment into the community and future generations. Through SOUL™, we are addressing the immediate needs of residents to restore rural communities for generations to come.