National Affordable Housing Awards Recognize Outstanding State Programs

October 26, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Twenty (20) state Housing Finance Agency (HFA) programs received Annual Awards for Program Excellence during the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) 2012 Annual Conference & Showplace in Orlando, FL.

Now in its 28th year, NCSHA’s awards program mission is to share information about the most successful housing programs, identify industry best practices, recognize exemplary HFA efforts, and encourage HFA innovation. Entries were judged on criteria that included originality, innovation, a proven track record in the marketplace, cost/benefit ratio, and measurable benefits provided to targeted customers. The seven categories are:

Communications
Homeownership
Legislative Campaign
Management Innovation
Rental Housing
Special Needs Housing
Special Achievement

The winning programs in each category were chosen from among 121 entries nationally and will serve as models for other HFAs.

“Our awards program represents the best work of HFAs from across the country,” said Barbara Thompson, executive director of NCSHA. “This collegial sharing of information about what works drives all HFAs to be more successful in achieving our common mission of providing affordable housing to those who need it.”

A list of the 2012 NCSHA Annual Awards for Program Excellence Winners follows:

Communications: Annual Report
Washington State Housing Finance Commission
“A State of Change”

Communications: Creative Media
California Housing Finance Agency
“Keep Your Home California” Marketing Campaign

Communications: Promotional Materials & Newsletters
Rhode Island Housing
Hardest Hit Fund Rhode Island Outreach Campaign

Homeownership: Empowering New Buyers (tie)
Illinois Housing Development Authority
Welcome Home Heroes

Homeownership: Empowering New Buyers (tie)
Virginia Housing Development Authority
Empowering New Buyers in Rural Regions

Homeownership: Encouraging New Production
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
CHOICES in Homeownership

Homeownership: Home Improvement & Rehabilitation
Illinois Housing Development Authority
Illinois Building Blocks Pilot Program – Saving Communities

Legislative Campaign: Federal
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
MSHDA Congressional Brochures

Legislative Campaign: State
Minnesota Housing
Minnesota Housing Legislative Campaign – Successfully Positioning Investment in Housing as Investment in Infrastructure

Management Innovation: Financial
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority
This is Different: A New Recipe For HFA’s

Management Innovation: Human Resources
Idaho Housing and Finance Association
Federal Programs Time Tracking System

Management Innovation: Operations
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Two Weeks Notice

Management Innovation: Technology
Virginia Housing Development Authority
ProLink

Rental Housing: Encouraging New Production
Virginia Housing Development Authority
New Construction Strategy for High Growth Areas

Rental Housing: Multifamily Management
Illinois Housing Development Authority
A Streamlined Approach to Multifamily Assets

Rental Housing: Preservation & Rehabilitation
New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority
Greener Homes Program

Special Needs Housing: Combating Homelessness
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) for Former Prisoners

Special Needs Housing: Housing for Persons with Special Needs (tie)
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Special Needs Housing Grant Program

Special Needs Housing: Housing for Persons with Special Needs (tie)
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Nursing Home Transition Rental Assistance

Special Achievement
Rhode Island Housing
Foreclosure Prevention: Help for Homeowners

For more information about NCSHA’s Annual Awards Program for Excellence, please visit our website at www.ncsha.org.

State Housing Finance Agencies – known as HFAs – share a public purpose mission to provide affordable housing help to the people of their jurisdictions who need it.

The National Council of State Housing Agencies – known as NCSHA – is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan association that advocates on behalf of HFAs before Congress and the Administration for affordable housing resources. It represents the HFAs of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Membership also includes more than 300 affordable housing industry partners