Special Needs Housing: Housing for Persons with Special Needs
Recognizes programs, other than those focused primarily on combating homelessness, that best provide affordable housing and services for persons with special needs.
Note: Individual developments are not eligible for an award.
Judging Criteria
Special Needs Housing entries will be judged on the degree to which they:
- Are innovative
- Are replicable
- Respond to an important state housing need
- Demonstrate measurable benefits to HFA targeted customers
- Have a proven track record of success in the marketplace
- Provide benefits that outweigh costs
- Demonstrate effective use of resources
- Effectively employ partnerships
- Achieve strategic objectives
If you have questions, please email awards@ncsha.org or call 202-624-7710.
2019 Winner
Tennessee Housing Development Agency
2019 Entries
Kentucky Housing Corporation:
Riverport Landings Scholar House — From Foster Care to College Degree
Riverport Scholar House campus will include a Family Scholar House educational services center that will serve not only residential families and youth emancipating from the foster care system, but also neighbors and residents from the other components of the development. Other state housing agencies can replicate this education/housing model and help a large, underserved population of youth exiting foster care work toward self-sufficiency, earning a degree, and living successfully.
MaineHousing:
Cabin in the Woods
Through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, MaineHousing financed the construction of Cabin in the Woods at the Togus VA Medical Center. Cabin in the Woods opened in 2018 and houses both male and female veterans who were once homeless. This project is a partnership among Volunteers of America Northern New England, the VA, MaineHousing, private financing and donations. The cabins are tucked away in the woods on the VA campus with access to VA healthcare services.
Tennessee Housing Development Agency:
Redefining the Margins
Recognizing a growing need across the state to help marginalized populations with access to safe, stable affordable housing opportunities, THDA created the Tennessee Housing Trust Fund Competitive Grant program. In concert with the Agency's strategic goals, this program offers nonprofit entities the ability to compete biannually for grants for housing projects to help youth aging out of foster care, ex-offenders and homeless veterans.
