NCSHA Recognizes State Housing Finance Agencies for Affordable Housing Innovation
WASHINGTON, DC — On October 6, the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) recognized state housing finance agencies (HFAs) for programs and practices that effectively address the affordable housing community’s toughest challenges.
“At a time when housing affordability has become a critical concern for Americans, this year’s awards program makes clear that state housing finance agencies are doing more than they ever have, with more creativity and commitment, to address the issue and its underlying causes,” said NCSHA Executive Director Stockton Williams.
Established in 1984, NCSHA’s Annual Awards for Program Excellence identify and elevate industry best practices and encourage continued HFA innovation. Member HFAs are eligible to submit initiatives for consideration in seven categories: Advocacy, Communications, Homeownership, Management Innovation, Rental Housing, Special Achievement, and Special Needs Housing.
The following state housing finance agencies were honored during NCSHA’s 2025 Annual Conference, which was attended this week by more than 1,000 HFA executive directors, staff, board members, and their industry partners. All the nominated programs can be found at ncsha.org/awards.
Advocacy
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority: State Housing Tax Credit Expansion
Communications: Annual Report
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency: A Brand-New Day: 2024 Annual Report
Communications: Integrated Campaign
Oregon Housing and Community Services: Community-Impact Stories Campaign | Oregon’s Emergency Homelessness Response
Communications: Special Event Marketing
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority: Celebrating 50 Years of Strengthening Colorado
Homeownership: Empowering New Buyers
Illinois Housing Development Authority: Expanding Homeownership Access in Illinois: The Access Plus Financing Initiative
Washington State Housing Finance Commission: Covenant Homeownership Program
Homeownership: Encouraging New Construction
MaineHousing: Bridging the Gap in a Market Lacking “Starter” Homes
Homeownership: Home Improvement and Rehabilitation
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency: Flipping the Fate of Foreclosures Through the Foreclosure Intervention Pilot Program
Management Innovation: Financial
California Housing Finance Agency: Bond Strategy Is a Financial Win-Win for CalHFA and Its Borrowers
Management Innovation: Human Resources
Virginia Housing: Building Future Leaders for Affordable Housing
Management Innovation: Internal Operations
California Housing Finance Agency: Financial Transparency, Internal Controls, and Risk Oversight
Management Innovation: Technology
California Housing Finance Agency: Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan Portal
Rental Housing: Encouraging New Construction and Promoting Preservation
MassHousing: The Future Is Now: MassHousing’s Momentum Fund
Rental Housing: Supporting Property Management and Renter Needs
Montana Board of Housing: Montana Conducts First Geographically Large Statewide Fair Market Rent Reevaluation Survey
Special Achievement
Minnesota Housing: Contributing to Housing for the Mission (and a Tax Credit)
Special Needs Housing: Combating Homelessness
Illinois Housing Development Authority: Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program
Special Needs Housing: Housing for Persons with Special Needs
Rhode Island Housing: Empowering Rhode Islanders Through Strategic Partnerships and Dedicated Support for Stable Housing
About the National Council of State Housing Agencies
For more than 50 years, state housing finance agencies have played a central role in the nation’s affordable housing system, delivering financing to make possible the purchase, development, and rehabilitation of affordable homes and rental apartments for low- and middle-income households.
The National Council of State Housing Agencies is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to advance, through advocacy and education, the efforts of the nation’s state HFAs and their partners to provide affordable housing to those who need it. NCSHA’s vision: An affordably housed nation. Learn more at www.ncsha.org.
For more information, contact Lisa Bowman, Director of Marketing and Communications.
