HUD HONORS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CATLETTSBURG FOR SUPERIOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

LOUISVILLE - The Louisville Field 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 11-14, 2007, in Louisville.

The Housing Authority of Catlettsburg (HAC) was honored with the Agency of the Year Award from among those Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in Kentucky managing 100-249 units. This PHA has earned a High Performer Public Housing Assessment System designation every year since 2002. In addition, the HAC has performed substantial modernization improvements to their facilities while managing their day-to-day operations.

The HAC provides many effective services to its residents and was awarded a 2006 HUD Resident Opportunities and Supportive Services (ROSS) Grant, which was one of only two ROSS Grants awarded in Kentucky and only one of thirty-two awarded in the nation. The HAC partners with many area organizations to provide free classes to their residents on financial management and predatory lending. The HAC also has an initiative to house the homeless and those that have been involuntarily displaced in the area. Their partner activities also extend to numerous agencies throughout the community to host many social and recreational activities for its residents.

The HUD Louisville Field Office annually recognizes superior program administration by presenting awards for Small
PHA of the Year for housing authorities with less than 100 units in management; Medium PHA of the Year for housing authorities with 100 to 249 units in management; Large PHA of the Year for housing authorities with 250 or more
units in management; and, for Housing Choice Voucher Agency of the Year for rental assistance program administrators. One hundred and five PHAs compete for the public housing awards and forty Housing Choice Voucher agencies compete for the rental assistance 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.

Awards are also given for Resident Initiative Program of the Year, Family Self- Sufficiency Program of the Year, and Best Practices Recognition for Website Design of the Year.

This year's award winners in each category included:

• Large PHA of the Year - Housing Authority of Hopkinsville
• Medium PHA of the Year - Housing Authority of Catlettsburg
• Small PHA of the Year - Housing Authority of Salyersville
• Housing Choice Voucher Agency of the Year - Paris-Bourbon County Community Development Agency
• Resident Initiative Program of the Year - Housing Authority of Covington
• Family Self-Sufficiency Program of the Year - Kentucky Housing Corporation
• Website Design of the Year - Housing Authority of Somerset

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, and 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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For more information, please contact Deborah Knight, HUD Louisville Field Office, at (502) 618-8129.