WASHINGTON, DC – Twenty-five state Housing Finance Agency (HFA) programs received Annual Awards for Program Excellence on September 18. The national program recognizes outstanding achievement in affordable housing. The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) presented the awards during its 2006 Annual Conference & Tradeshow in San Francisco, attended by more than 1,000 affordable housing industry professionals. Now in its 22nd 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. The winning programs were judged on originality, innovation, a proven track record in the marketplace, cost/benefit ratio, and measurable benefits provided to targeted customers.

The winners were chosen from 124 entries from across the country, and the winning programs will serve as models for other HFAs. "The Awards Program is a great way for HFAs to share information about what works. It is this sharing that, over the years, has made all HFAs stronger and more successful in achieving our common mission of providing affordable housing for those who need it," said Kim Herman, NCSHA president and executive director of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

In addition to the program awards, nine HFAs received the new Impact Award, which honors extraordinary contributions to the affordable housing industry community. The nine winners sent volunteer staff to help the Louisiana HFA provide financing for hundreds of new apartments for Hurricane Katrina victims.

NCSHA is a national, nonprofit organization created by the nation’s state HFAs to assist them in increasing housing opportunities for lower income and underserved people through the financing, development, and preservation of affordable housing.

A list of the 2006 NCSHA Annual Awards for Program Excellence Winners follows:

Homeownership: Empowering New Buyers

Nebraska Investment Finance Authority - First Home Super Mortgage Program; Contact: Ted Simpson, (402)898-2503

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency - Rural Opportunity Mortgage; Contact: Margaret Matrone, (919)877-5606

Homeownership: Home Improvement and Rehabilitation

Ohio Housing Finance Agency - Historic Preservation Home Equity Loan Program; Contact: Jennifer Solomon, (614)466-6991

Homeownership: Encouraging New Production

MassHousing - Fannie Mae Deed Rider; Contact: Nancy McDonald, (617)854-1852

Rental Housing: Multifamily Management

Michigan State Housing Development Authority - Stabilizing Developments Using CNA Data; Contact: Donna McMillan, (313)456-3579

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency - Field Guide to Multi-Family Construction; Contact: Matt Raab, (919)877-5644

Rental Housing: Preservation and Rehabilitation

New York City Housing Development Corporation - Progress of Peoples' Developments; Contact: Aaron Donovan, (212)227-9496

Rental Housing: Encouraging New Production

Rhode Island Housing - Restoring Our Urban Core-Mixed Use Development; Contact: Laura Archambault, (401)457-1261

Special Needs Housing: Combating Homelessness

Idaho Housing and Finance Association - IHFA's Statewide Strategy to Battle Homelessness; Contact: Julie Williams, (208)331-4758

New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal - New York/New York III; Contact: Lorrie Pizzola, (518)474-9553

Special Needs Housing: Housing for Persons with Special Needs

Iowa Finance Authority - Aftercare Rent Subsidy Program; Contact: Shawna Lode, (515)242-5006

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency - Targeted Units and Key Program Partnership; Contact: Mark Shelburne, (919)877-5645

Management Innovation: Financial

Arkansas Development Finance Authority - Warehouse Draw-Down Program: Cash Management Tool and Revenue Source; Contact: Leigh Ann Biernat, (501)682-5995

Management Innovation: Human Resources

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development - Health and Fitness Initiatives; Contact: Veronica Holland, (410)514-7022

Management Innovation: Operations

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development - A Targeted Marketing Strategy for Improving Homeownership in Maryland; Contact: Massoud Ahmadi, (410)514-7192

MassHousing - Homeownership and Mortgage Insurance Redesign; Contact: Nancy McDonald, (617)854-1852

Management Innovation: Technology

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development - One-Stop Universal Application; Contact: Sue McLean, (410)514-7182

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency - The Pennsylvania Affordable Apartment Locator; Contact: David Evans, (717)780-3928

Communications: Annual Report

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency - A Brand New Day; Contact: Brian A. Hudson Sr., (717)780-3911

Washington State Housing Finance Commission - 2005 Local Communities, Local Solutions; Contact: Kim Herman, (206)287-4427

Communications: Promotional Materials and Newsletters

California Housing Finance Agency - The Journey to Homeownership; Contact: Evan Gerberding, (916)324-2539

Communications: Creative Media

California Housing Finance Agency - A Guitar, A Rolling Pin, A Photograph; Contact: Evan Gerberding, (916)324-2539

Virginia Housing Development Authority - Find A Lender; Contact: Brian Matt, (804)343-5520

Special Achievement

Louisiana Housing Finance Agency - Special Achievement; Contact: Robert Barbor, (225)763-8700 ext. 118

MaineHousing - Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing; Contact: Dan Simpson, (207)626-4617

2006 Impact Award Winners

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority

Kentucky Housing Corporation

Nebraska Investment Finance Authority

New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency

Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

Washington State Housing Finance Commission

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