HUD HONORS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF SALYERSVILLE 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 Salyersville (HAS) was honored with the Agency of the Year Award from among those
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in Kentucky managing less than 100 units. This PHA has been a high performer
under the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) since 2002. The PHAS physical scores ranked the condition of their property both internally and externally among some of the highest in the state over the last two years. The
PHA consistently maintains a high occupancy record in large part because vacated units are prepared for leasing on average in less than two days.

The HAS ensures that their renovations and property improvements make the units very desirable in a small market area, while also making effective use of their funds by minimizing their use of contract services. The exterior of the PHA's apartments are attractive because of new roofing, vinyl siding, playground equipment, and fencing. In
addition, the HAS partners with community agencies in order to provide their tenants with quality health and human services programs. Tenants have access to on-site weekly exercise classes, flu shots, and adult females can take advantage of mammogram testing.

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

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