Nan McKay and Associates is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 NMA Housing Awards. We first launched these awards nearly a decade ago to recognize excellence and innovation in the affordable housing industry.
Since then, we’ve been honored to read and evaluate a great number of worthy entries, and this year was no exception. Read on to learn more about this year’s winning agencies.
2013 Excellence in Housing Award (Large Agency)
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Recognizing an opportunity to prepare children living in assisted housing for kindergarten and beyond, the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority in Ohio launched an ambitious Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) to empower parents and caregivers living in AMHA housing by providing resources to promote early childhood learning. Major components of the ECI include family outreach events, a home visitation program, and maternal depression services. AMHA leverages community partnerships to link AMHA families with supportive services and encourage physical and behavioral health, providing a foundation for success later in life.
2013 Excellence in Housing Award (Small Agency)
New Albany Housing Authority
The New Albany Housing Authority in Indiana set a goal of improving the way that the agency and its families were viewed by the community. In order to break down old stereotypes and erase the separation between their residents and the mainstream population, NAHA built stronger partnerships with the city, the local public schools, employment services, and hospitals. NAHA has successfully linked its family self-sufficiency program, elderly and disabled program, youth program, and homeownership program with an impressive array of community resources, including Dress for Success, professional development groups, health screenings, and community gardens.
2013 Pioneer in Housing Award (Large Agency)
Nevada Rural Housing Authority
Our judges were greatly impressed by the Nevada Rural Housing Authority’s home financing program to expand homeownership opportunities in the rural parts of the state. As our finance expert said, “What they have been able to do in the mortgage assistance area is truly innovative.” Starting in 2006, NRHA began to issue tax-exempt bonds, used a Mortgage Credit Certification program, and accumulated unused bond capital from county and local governments to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to hundreds of families in their jurisdiction. Through a number of innovations to their program to ensure longevity even through the recession and financial crisis, NRHA has helped make the dream of homeownership a reality, enhancing the quality of life throughout the state’s rural communities.
2013 Pioneer in Housing Honorable Mention (Large Agency)
Houston Housing Authority
Beginning last year, the Houston Housing Authority came together with local, regional, and national leaders to undertake the monumental task of housing 100 chronically homeless Houstonians, at least 60 of whom were veterans, in 100 days. The “100 in 100” initiative was more than successful, ultimately housing 148 homeless veterans, including 101 chronically homeless veterans; but HHA didn’t stop there. Renamed “Housing Houston’s Heroes,” the project went on to house 557 homeless individuals and families, including 488 formerly homeless veterans, in one year. To top it all off, HHA set a new goal this year of housing 300 veterans in 100 days, and exceeded that goal with 357 homeless veterans housed.
2013 Pioneer in Housing Award (Small Agency)
Woonsocket Housing Authority
Rhode Island’s Woonsocket Housing Authority developed one of the first programs in the country to offer affordable low-income public housing structured with assisted living services for the elderly residents, creatively transforming HUD-funded housing to meet the needs of the population WHA serves and enriching the lives of people who otherwise would not have been able to afford these services. The innovative program actually saves money for the state, carrying a cost of one-third to one-half in comparison to private assisted living units and nursing homes. One of WHA’s partners says, "If this program were established throughout public housing, it would save billions of dollars."
