HUD HONORS HOUSING AGENCIES FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
Seven agencies receive prestigious recognition at annual Kentucky Housing Association Conference

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Louisville 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 HUD Mid-
Year Conference held February 19-21, 2008, in Louisville.

The HUD Louisville Field 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 in management; Mid Size 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 (HCV) Agency of the Year for rental assistance program administrators.

One hundred and five PHAs compete for the public housing awards and forty HCV 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 (FSS) Program of the
Year, and Best Practices Recognition for Web Site Design of the Year.

This year's award winners in each category included:

• Large PHA of the Year - The Housing Authority of Campbellsville
• Mid Size PHA of the Year - The Housing Authority of Bardstown
• Small PHA of the Year - The Housing Authority of Lyon County
• Housing Choice Voucher Agency of the Year - The Boone County Fiscal Court Section 8 Program
• Resident Initiative Program of the Year - The Housing Authority of Owensboro
• Family Self-Sufficiency Program of the Year - The Housing Authority of Cynthiana
• Web Site Design of the Year - The Housing Authority of Glasgow

The summary of the awardees' accomplishments are attached to this released.

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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.

For further information contact: Deborah Knight, HUD Louisville Office Public Affairs Coordinator, at (502) 618-8129.

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Summary of HUD Recognition Awards at the 2008 KHA Conference

Large PHA of the Year - The Housing Authority of Campbellsville
The Housing Authority of Campbellsville (HAC) has an annual budget of approximately $2 million dollars and has high ratings in managing both the 294 public housing units and the 274 units of housing choice vouchers. The result is
that the HAC provides some of the nicest rental housing in the area. In addition to its role as landlord for almost
600 households, the HAC has provided numerous and varied opportunities for the families living in their units to successfully take advantage of self-sufficiency programs in order to improve their quality of lives.

Mid Size PHA of the Year - The Housing Authority of Bardstown
The Housing Authority of Bardstown (HAB) is a very desirable housing choice in the Bardstown community. (HAB) manages 202 units. In addition, the agency also promotes economic independence for eligible families living in their units by offering FSS and homeownership programs. The housing authority is involved in partnering with several agencies that have opened the doors of the Nelson County Community Clinic, which provides diagnostic and basic treatment services to those who do not have medical insurance or the financial resources necessary to pay for private insurance or medical care.

Small Public Housing Authority of the Year - The Housing Authority of Lyon County
The Lyon County Housing Authority (LCHA) manages 94 units of public housing and is the management agency for
44 units of Section 8 new construction. The agency strongly believes in and has adopted Touching Lives; Making A Difference as a guiding slogan. The LCHA has various partners in the community who assist in improving the quality
of lives for their residents. For example, the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative provides the housing authority residents an opportunity to get their G.E.D. and the America's Second Harvest distributes commodities for the
elderly citizens living at the housing authority.

Housing Choice Voucher Program of the Year - The Boone County Fiscal Court
The Boone County Fiscal Court (BCFC) traditionally has been regarded as one of the top performing HCV programs
in the country. Not only does the BCFC provide assistance to approximately 1,000 families, the quality of the units assisted is excellent and the program gets good value with its funds. Additionally, the BCFC has over 30 residents participating in their voluntary FSS program. So far the agency has assisted over 14 families purchase homes.

Resident Initiative Program of the Year Award - Housing Authority of Owensboro
The Housing Authority of Owensboro (HAO) has a myriad of residential programs and services from which their residents of all age groups can choose. The HAO partnered with the Junior League of Owensboro to provide a
reading initiative for the entire family - free books to children under 5 and a monthly mail order book club for others. There are also reading parties where books are discussed while dinner is served by the Junior League. The HAO has also joined with a nonprofit county agency to establish the Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) program and, in
2007, over 900 tax returns were processed for a total $1,392,154 in refunds to families. The HAO also has several elderly initiatives through its "Residents Are Making It" Program. Internet classes, e-mail access, health education, exercise classes, health screenings, housekeeping services, and a walking club are examples of the many
opportunities provided to the elderly residents at the HAO.

FSS of the Year - The Housing Authority of Cynthiana
To date a total of 31 participants have graduated from the Housing Authority of Cynthiana's FSS program and there are currently 29 participants enrolled in the program. Participants include those who have attained full or part-time employment, and enrollees working toward college degrees in nursing. There are 14 families who are accruing escrow accounts, 5 of these have homeownership as a goal in their contract, and 3 families have already achieved homeownership.

Web Site of the Year - The Housing Authority of Glasgow
The purpose and intent of the Web Site Design of the Year Award is to encourage Kentucky PHAs and HCV Agencies to have a web site in order to provide meaningful information regarding their mission as well as their commitment to serving low-income families throughout the Commonwealth. This year the award goes to the Housing Authority of Glasgow. Their web site, which can be found at www.haglasgow.com, was selected unanimously by an independent HUD panel for this outstanding resource to citizens seeking housing assistance.