Housing Unlimited has received the 2026 Collaborative Partnership Award from the Community Development Network of Maryland for a rooftop solar initiative expected to save the Montgomery County nonprofit more than $500,000 over the next 25 years.
The award was presented Monday, October 26, during the Community Development Network of Maryland’s Annual Meeting and Awards in Baltimore. The organization recognized Housing Unlimited’s Rooftop Solar Program, developed in partnership with Montgomery County Green Bank, RE-volv and GreenBrilliance.
The project is bringing rooftop solar to more than 40 Housing Unlimited townhomes across Montgomery County. Most of the systems were already producing electricity as of May 2026, and once completed, the project is expected to represent more than 270 kW of solar capacity and avoid more than 5,000 tons of carbon emissions.
RE-volv and Montgomery County Green Bank financed and developed the project, while GreenBrilliance designed and installed the rooftop solar systems.
Through RE-volv’s Power Purchase Agreement model, Housing Unlimited is able to purchase electricity generated by the systems at a rate below standard utility costs. The nonprofit projects more than $500,000 in net savings over 25 years and plans to reinvest those savings into housing and services for adults in mental health recovery.
Housing Unlimited owns 96 scattered-site homes across Montgomery County and provides housing for 263 adults in mental health recovery. The organization provides permanent, affordable shared housing designed to support residents as they pursue greater independence and recovery.
The solar initiative also received support through a grant to RE-volv from REVERB, funded through Billie Eilish’s Changemaker Program. A video produced about the project features Housing Unlimited residents discussing the role stable housing and the solar initiative have played in their lives.
The Community Development Network of Maryland represents and advocates for community development organizations across the state. Its annual awards recognize organizations and initiatives advancing community development in Maryland.
