Special Achievement: Special Achievement

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation:
The Last Frontier Housing Initiative

Alaska has remote communities off the road system that are struggling to maintain essential services because there’s no housing for the workforce. Although AHFC has programs to develop housing, not all communities are accessing those resources. So this year we brought the dollars to them and said “let’s do this together.” The process is something we’ve affectionately named The Last Frontier Housing Initiative, and it’s already driving forward in 5 of our communities.

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority:
Implementing Proposition 123

Proposition 123, a ballot measure passed by Colorado voters, established a dedicated fund to support affordable housing development. Following extensive stakeholder engagement and program development, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) successfully implemented the programs established by Proposition 123 that it administers in partnership with Colorado’s state Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority:
CHFA's Multifamily Construction & Design Standards

CHFA introduced pioneering standards in 2005 to enhance affordable housing in Connecticut. Over 19 years, they continue to evolve, integrating best practices like LEED and addressing emerging issues. Streamlining construction processes, these documents bridge knowledge gaps and foster safer, greener communities. Award-worthy for innovation and cost-effectiveness, they serve CHFA's goal of superior customer service amid economic challenges.

Georgia Department of Community Affairs/Georgia Housing and Finance Authority:
The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing

The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) helps communities learn about affordable housing and how to make it a reality. The program is in its 20th year and has had 96 communities participate. To move the program forward, we have created the GICH Senior Year program, where we are bringing place-based education and resources to alumni communities. We will bring assistance from our agency and partners to help the communities develop site-based projects that link our programs together.

Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation:
Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program

An unimaginable disaster struck Maui’s historic Lahaina town in August 2023 when a fire tore through it with lightning speed. At least 100 people were killed. Between 3,000-4,000 homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. Governor Josh Green, M.D., asked HHFDC to quickly stand up a program to help Lahaina survivors restore some measure of normalcy. With no additional personnel or other resources -- and without a playbook to use as a guide -- the 60-member HHFDC responded to the call.

Illinois Housing Development Authority:
Next Gen

Affordable housing development is complex work that has a number of high barriers for new and emerging developers. For this reason, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) created the Next Generation Capacity Building Initiative (Next Gen) to provide direct support for emerging housing developers to enter and succeed within the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. Next Gen is part of the State’s continuing efforts to support the capacity and growth of BIPOC developers.

Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority:
Improving Communities through Crowdgranting

IHCDA facilitates the CreatINg Places program, a donation and reward-based method of crowdfunding called “crowdgranting”. Through this model, citizens support projects and activities through web-based donations which, if the fundraising goal is reached within a set time, are matched by IHCDA. CreatINg Places recently hit a milestone of 250 projects successfully funded, with nearly $10 million raised total. The success of CreatINg Places has also given rise to two other crowdgranting programs.

Iowa Finance Authority:
Iowa Thriving Communities

The Iowa Thriving Communities initiative spurred communities to showcase their role in housing solutions and welcoming housing diversity, yielding remarkable outcomes. Developer interest soared, with a five-fold increase in some cases. The initiative is estimated to attract $100 million in housing investments, facilitating the development of 400 housing units. Additionally, it catalyzed over $30 million in private investments, signaling a public/private commitment to housing advancement.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation:
Unconventional: The Kansas HOME-ARP Program

Kansas has long had a housing shortage, but the COVID-19 pandemic turned that problem into a crisis. Containing and mitigating the emergency requires both conventional and unconventional resources, including HOME-ARP. By pairing housing development funds with wrap-around services, HOME-ARP circumvented barriers that often challenge housing agencies. KHRC expanded upon the model’s unconventionality, funding innovative programs while leveraging existing relationships and building new partnerships.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority:
Michigan’s First Statewide Housing Plan: From Implementation to Action

Michigan completed its first comprehensive Statewide Housing Plan (SHP) in June 2022, in response to our state’s affordable housing crisis. This award submission summarizes the 2023-24 implementation activities undertaken in support of the priorities, goals, and strategies laid out in the SHP.

Minnesota Housing:
Honoring Tribal Sovereignty, from Intent to Allocations

Minnesota Housing’s 2023 legislative wins included several for the 11 Tribes that share the state’s geography. We set aside $10 million for Tribal Nations to assist people facing homelessness. We made Tribal Nations eligible for all our funding programs, becoming the first agency in the state to do so. We also worked in partnership with Red Lake Reservation Housing Authority to convert 16 rental homes to homeownership on Tribal land, our first Eventual Tenant Ownership successes in Minnesota.

New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority:
Housing Academy

Housing Academy is a partnership between New Hampshire Housing and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. The program is intended to support local leaders, including professional planning staff, elected officials, and volunteer board/commission members, by providing training on community engagement tools and strategies, storytelling and messaging, and various housing and zoning topics.

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency:
Outreach Advisor Role Creates Access to HOME-ARP Funds

The NC Housing Finance Agency created the Supportive Housing American Rescue Plan to manage and direct the allocation of HOME-ARP funds. However, it is often a challenge for rural partners not covered by a HOME Consortia to apply for programs because of limited local capacity and development experience. Enter the Outreach Advisor position, a role created to conduct local community outreach and provide targeted education and technical assistance to partners to address this need.

Ohio Housing Finance Agency:
Democratizing Data through the Housing Needs Assessment

In State Fiscal Year 2019, OHFA reimagined the Housing Needs Assessment to bring it online, with the goals of democratizing knowledge, improving agency efficiency, and inspiring more statewide coordination. The Office of Research & Analytics worked with the Office of Public Affairs have continuously enhanced the online Housing Needs Assessment, which now includes a dynamic Executive Summary, improving the understanding of the data, and an interactive platform using Tableau software.

Oregon Housing and Community Services:
Partner Engagement: New Oregon Centralized Application

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is creating a new funding process for affordable rental housing development in alignment with the Governor’s housing policy priorities. OHCS needed to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders on 14 development topics. Throughout this six-month process, OHCS held discussions with housing partners across the state. Their feedback and insight created a foundation upon which the new Oregon Centralized Application is based.

Rhode Island Housing:
Municipal Technical Assistance Program: Breaking Down Barriers & Increasing Production

RIHousing was tasked with administering the new Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) to help municipalities identify and remove barriers to housing development, including through the implementation of the new land use law changes. RIHousing designed the program to provide quality assistance, make the assistance process easy and accessible, and provide replicable models that all communities can benefit from.

Tennessee Housing Development Agency:
Homeownership for Heroes: Expanding THDA Mortgage Program for More Tennessee Heroes

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) celebrates and honors men and women who serve their communities. In response to Governor Bill Lee's concern over the lack of affordability for homebuying for public service workers, THDA expanded Homeownership for the Brave to become Homeownership for Heroes. Homeownership for Heroes provides an interest rate reduction on a Great Choice loan rate to US military as well as firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, and EMTs.

Virginia Housing:
Little Free Library, Big Community Impact

Virginia Housing recognizes the importance of literacy and access to information for all members of our community. The creation of the Little Free Library at our headquarters was a collaborative effort between several teams and it now provides citizens of our local community, as well as customers, stakeholders, and partners who visit our headquarters, with access to books. This associate-led initiative is a unique way for Virginia Housing to promote literacy in our community.