HUD HONORS LOUISVILLE METRO HOUSING AUTHORITY AS FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN MANAGEMENT
Carrollton, Paducah, Pikeville, Scottsville, Bowling Green, and Covington 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.

Executive director Tim Barry and the staff of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) were recognized with the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program of the Year award. The LMHA FSS Program includes both the Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing Programs and it is of exceptional quality. LMHA has an active Coordinating Committee, which is a valuable key to the success of the program.

The LMHA FSS Program has developed a philosophy of going beyond just assisting participants into accumulating
nest eggs of money by emphasizing the importance of preparing participants for better financial futures. LMHA has placed an importance on developing participants' financial skills by offering a six-part training course. Each
participant must envision the financial goals that will lead to self-sufficiency and include those goals, as well as a written plan for using their escrow.

In addition, the LMHA FSS Program has implemented an innovative initiative that develops participants' job seeking skills through such things as online job postings, resume writing, and improved interview skills. Computer labs are available for both job search and basic computer training, something that is useful in almost any job. In the next
year, this program will expand its employment efforts by developing relationships with local employers that result in
job development and direct job placement of FSS participants.

LMHA has faced many of the same challenges as other programs: recruitment, retention, employment, case management and homeownership; yet they have met these challenges with inventive solutions such as bright-
colored inserts in recertification mailings, presentations at briefings, individualized case plans, a job readiness
program, case management training and an improved tracking system.

Other award winners included the Housing Authorities of Carrollton, Pikeville, Scottsville, Bowling Green, and Covington, as well as the City of Paducah Housing Choice Voucher Program.

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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