The Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program engages a wide range of participants, and success looks different for each audience. For property owners and contractors, one of the most important factors in achieving success is establishing and maintaining relationships with tenants that are built on trust. This foundation influences every stage of a project and directly impacts the program’s long-term success and the benefits residents experience.

Residents may sometimes be skeptical of new projects—especially when they’re not informed or included in the process. To support stronger tenant engagement, the SOMAH Program Administrators (PA) have developed the following best practices for building trust onsite with tenants at SOMAH properties.

Set the Foundation: Communicate Early and Often

• Notify tenants in advance about construction timelines, noise, and any potential utility interruptions.
• Use clear, multilingual notices tailored to residents’ needs.
• Coordinate with onsite property managers to ensure updates are distributed effectively.

Coordinate with Your Team

• Make sure all team members understand SOMAH’s mission and goals around community empowerment.
• Even if staff are familiar with your organization, participating in SOMAH is a unique experience that requires awareness and alignment.

Be Visible and Approachable

• Ensure residents can easily identify project staff through badges, uniforms, or other identifiers.
• Engage residents with friendly greetings—small interactions can help ease concerns and build rapport.

Respect Cultural and Community Norms

• Avoid loud music, inappropriate language, or behaviors that could be seen as intrusive.
• Don’t assume residents’ knowledge or comfort level with technical information—meet them where they are.

Explain the Benefits of SOMAH

• Take opportunities to explain:
• How SOMAH works
• How it can impact utility bills
• How residents can get more information or support
• Direct residents to official SOMAH resources or refer them to the property manager or partnering CBO for deeper engagement.

Ensure Post-Project Communication

• Provide tenants with contact information for:
• Maintenance or system issues
• Energy monitoring tools (if applicable)
• Continued educational resources

The success of SOMAH relies on property owners and contractors engaging residents as trusted partners. The interactions that occur onsite—through communication, professionalism, and respect for the community—are invaluable. Long after the solar panels are installed, residents should feel confident and supported by a process that valued their participation and trust.