HUD HONORS COVINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH A BEST PRACTICES AWARD FOR WEBSITE DESIGN
Carrollton, Pikeville, Scottsville, Louisville, Bowling Green, and Paducah Housing Authorities/Agencies Also Receive Awards

LOUISVILLE - The Louisville HUD Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), presented awards for excellence in management to several housing agencies at the Kentucky Housing Association Mid-Year Conference held February 12-15, 2006, in Louisville.

The Louisville HUD Office annually recognizes superior program administration by presenting awards for Small Public Housing Authority (PHA) of the Year for housing authorities with less than 100 units; Mid Size Public Housing Authority of the Year for housing authorities with 100-250 units, and Large Public Housing Authority of the
Year for housing authorities with more than 250 units; and, for Housing Choice Voucher Agency of the Year for housing choice voucher rental assistance program administrators. Awards are also given for Resident Initiative Program of the Year, Family Self Sufficiency Program of the Year, and a new Best Practices for Web Site Design of the Year. One-hundred and five public housing authorities are in competition for the public housing
awards and forty-four Housing Choice Voucher agencies compete for the Housing Choice Voucher award. To be considered for the authority and agency of the year awards, the competing organizations must excel at property, financial, and occupancy rate management.

Recognized for the first ever Best Practices for Web Site Design of the Year award were acting executive director, Tom Schmitz, website designer Adrian Early, and the staff of the Housing Authority of Covington (HAC). This new award program was designed to encourage PHAs to have a website that provides meaningful information regarding
the agency's mission as well as their commitment to serving low-income families throughout Kentucky.

The HAC website does just that. It is a great example of customer service because customers can apply for an apartment, generate work orders, report fraud, review board minutes, and more. It also provides internal and
external stakeholders with materials such as the lease, Agency Plan, employment opportunities, demolition status reports, and bid requests.

Other award winners included the Housing Authorities of Carrollton, Pikeville, Scottsville, Bowling Green, Louisville,
and Paducah.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as
well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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