HUD HONORS KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION 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.

Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), the state housing finance agency, was honored with the Family Self-
Sufficiency (FSS) Program of the Year Award from among the twenty-eight agencies in Kentucky that actively administer the program. KHC was chosen for its sustained excellence since the onset of its program in 1993, which services the largest area in the state of Kentucky. It coordinates twenty-three separate case management
agencies and partners with countless area businesses and educational facilities to offer a full range of services that contributes to the program's success for all of its FSS participants.

KHC has assisted hundreds of families in furthering their goals toward financial independence. At least fifty percent
of the FSS families have established personal checking and savings accounts above and beyond the escrow account maintained by KHC, and in the past five years, those escrow accounts have markedly increased. In addition, sixty-three families have realized the dream of homeownership through this program.

KHC also works closely with an assortment of agencies and service providers through its Safe Havens program. This program serves victims of domestic violence, the people who are homeless, and people with mental illness. Initial voucher subsidies provided to these families are financed by KHC. Subsidy and participation in the FSS program is afforded with the provision of temporary housing that is then converted to a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
after one year, as long as the family is deemed eligible. This is one of the elements that has contributed to KHC's continued high level of FSS participation.

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.