Resources & Information

A Community Energy Navigator is a trusted, independent advisor for consumers. Navigators are often housing counselors or financial coaches who help homeowners and renters access and understand the benefits of investing in home weatherization, energy efficiency, home electrification, electric vehicle adoption, ways to create safer and healthier homes, and how to utilize incentives like rebates and tax credits. Navigators assist by clarifying these complex programs and connecting homeowners and renters with qualified energy auditors and weatherization contractors. Additionally, Navigators raise awareness about common scams.

The community development field is increasingly focused on health as a core driver of improving lives and revitalizing communities. The COVID-19 pandemic made this focus particularly critical and timely, as it illuminated long-standing community conditions that exacerbated poor health and wellbeing outcomes. In 2024, NeighborWorks® America launched an action lab to explore health and build capacity for action in community development contexts. The result of the action lab was a set of tools, insights and strategies.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed global threats to health, employment, education, and housing. During the pandemic, both owners and renters were at grave risk of losing their homes through mortgage delinquency or nonpayment of rent. In response, federal and local interventions were implemented to promote housing stability, from moratoriums to assistance funding. This report focuses on one of those responses. As a part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Congress allocated $100 million to NeighborWorks America for the Housing Stability Counseling Program (HSCP) to strengthen and expand the nation’s housing counseling capacity and to help people facing increased housing insecurity navigate and access available supports amid the pandemic.

This case study highlights Wyoming Housing Network's innovative partnership with Native organizations to create a culturally responsive approach to homeownership and wealth-building for Native Americans. Learn how WHN is leveraging its long-standing expertise to empower Native families on the Wind River Reservation.

Place significantly impacts various aspects of our lives, prompting communities to seek sustainable solutions. NeighborWorks® America addresses this through a place-based approach called comprehensive community development (CCD), aiming to build community strength and resilience. By investing $1.7M in CCD strategies, they empower nearly 250 local organizations to foster stronger communities. These organizations, rooted in communities nationwide, create a platform for community engagement and empowerment, driving change through a deep understanding of place. The following case studies will showcase innovative, resident-centered approaches that exemplify the positive impact of a CCD lens in fostering strong communities across the country.

This toolkit was developed by NeighborWorks® America (NeighborWorks) in partnership with the Center for Community Investment (CCI). The toolkit was informed by the meaningful work and progress of NeighborWorks network organizations participating in the Health Partner Investment Learning Lab and the Health Partner Investment Action Lab. The Learning Lab and the Action Lab occurred over ten months and were jointly implemented by NeighborWorks and CCI. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and The California Endowment support the Center for Community Investment.

"Centering Resident Voices to Co-Create an Equitable, Thriving Future" re-imagines what is possible across healthcare, housing and community development. It shifts who is driving change and opens opportunities to center resident voices. Positioning residents as the drivers of community change is an essential and transformative foundation to advancing health equity.

In 2020, amid Boston’s housing crisis and the heightened visibility of racial injustice, the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation reimagined its mission to tackle these urgent challenges head-on.

The San Pablo Area Revitalization Collaborative is revitalizing West Oakland’s San Pablo Corridor by empowering its 10,500 residents through community leadership, arts and culture. Established in 2014, SPARC addresses disinvestment and rising crime, focusing on sustainable health and equity for long-time residents.

A lack of affordable housing units is often associated with big cities, but this issue also affects rural areas, where geographically isolated communities face unique challenges in identifying sustainable solutions. For over 50 years, GROW South Dakota (GROW SD) has successfully addressed these challenges by developing collaborative partnerships that provide access to funding and expertise.

Although GROW SD is a state-wide organization, it has focused on a new housing development initiative in its own backyard of Sisseton, integrating economic development and community engagement. Creating and sustaining growth in rural areas requires innovative approaches, and through these efforts, GROW SD has significantly improved the quality of life and economic stability in rural communities across the state.