$60 Million in Green Financing: How Have I Never Heard of SELF?

💚 $60 Million in Green Financing: How Have I Never Heard of SELF?

Real talk: I got an email a few weeks ago from Doug Coward, a former St. Lucie County Commissioner. The subject line said something about SELF reaching $60 million in green financing and empowering 12,000 people. I read it and thought, "Yo, that's kind of crazy. How have I never heard about this?"

The discovery: Sixty million dollars is no small feat. I know we get bombarded with numbers all the time, especially when it comes to local budgets and county spending. Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of what those numbers actually mean. But this wasn't just a number on a spreadsheet. This was 12,000 people. Real families getting real help with home repairs, hurricane-proofing, AC units, and energy upgrades.

What piqued my interest: This program was spearheaded right here in St. Lucie County 15 years ago, but I'd never heard of it. And that got me thinking about how many programs start with big promises and then just fade away. We've all seen it happen. But SELF didn't fade. It grew. It expanded to 17 states. And it's still here, still helping people.

So I went to their headquarters: I met with Sheyanne and the team at their office in Fort Pierce. And honestly, what they're doing is pretty special. The Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) is America's first nonprofit Green Bank and Community Development Financial Institution hybrid. That's a mouthful, but here's what it means in plain English.

For the uninitiated: SELF provides low-interest loans to help people make their homes safer, more energy-efficient, and storm resilient. They focus on folks who can't get traditional financing: seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, women-led families, people with disabilities, and anyone with poor or no credit. Seventy percent of their clients are low to moderate income households. More than $15 million has been deployed right here on the Treasure Coast.

Why this matters: Doug Coward, who founded SELF and now serves as Director of National Expansion, told me something that stuck with me: "Reaching $60 million with low default rates proves that underserved and underbanked communities are creditworthy and that these programs are scalable."

Think about that for a second. The people who traditional banks say are "too risky" are actually paying back their loans. SELF is proving that the system is broken, not the people.

What clients are saying:

"Every time my family has used SELF, it has always been a wonderful experience. They're prompt, helpful, compassionate. Without SELF, I'm not sure I would have been able to keep my family home. I can do payments all day long, those big chunks get you though! I love how they protect their clients' interest by making sure the job is done well before contractors get paid. Back in 2013, my mom had a heart attack. While she was in the hospital, SELF helped her get a new AC installed. By the time she came home, everything was taken care of and it meant everything. Most recently, they helped me replace a 20-year-old roof after losing my insurance. Cheyenne has been phenomenal. SELF has helped me and my family more than I could ever express in words. They've helped us keep a home that's been in our family for four generations. We couldn't be happier." — Christine G., Fort Pierce

"Returning client! Thankful for the assistance. We couldn't have gotten this done without Sheyanne's help! Living on a fixed income makes it difficult to afford large purchases like this." — Calvin M., Hobe Sound

"It was an easy process. My loan manager was very professional, and I would recommend to anyone." — Robert C., Port St. Lucie

How it works: SELF uses an "ability to pay" underwriting model instead of traditional credit scores. They offer low-interest loans for critical improvements like roofs, HVAC systems, windows, solar panels, and batteries. They partner with local governments, utilities, and mission-driven investors to expand access to affordable capital.

What impressed me: When I visited their headquarters, what struck me most was how much they care about St. Lucie County. They work with local vendors. They understand local challenges. They're not some outside organization parachuting in with a one-size-fits-all solution. They're from here, and they get it.

The bigger picture: CEO Duanne Andrade put it this way: "Reaching $60 million in financing is more than just a number. It represents thousands of families now able to enjoy reliable air conditioning during record heat waves, fortified roofs capable of withstanding hurricanes, and lower utility bills thanks to energy-efficient upgrades."

As climate impacts intensify and we face more extreme weather, SELF is becoming more important than ever. They're not just fixing houses. They're helping families prepare for what's coming.

A tool for homeowners: SELF has also created CanopyClimate, making it easier for homeowners to access the resources they need.

What's next: From what I understand, SELF is looking to be a resource locally for environmental resilience and how we deal with climate adaptation. I'm projecting out a little bit here, but they're positioning themselves to be a beacon for information and knowledge about how to make our homes and communities more resilient.

The bottom line: So many programs come and go. How many actually finish what they start? How many expand and extend and keep delivering 15 years later? SELF is still here, still growing, still helping people. That's worth paying attention to.

If you need help with home repairs, energy upgrades, or storm resilience, check them out at solarenergyloanfund.org. And if you're just interested in learning more about how we can build more resilient communities, they're a good place to start.

Learn more about SELF