HUD HONORS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COVINGTON 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 23-25, 2009, in Louisville.

This year, the Public Housing Authority (PHA) of the Year Award from those PHAs in Kentucky managing 250 or more units was presented to the Housing Authority of Covington (HAC). The HAC is an 879-unit PHA that is now part of a consortium with the City of Covington's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program consisting of over 1,100 units.

The HAC has consistently sustained high performance designations through the HUD performance rating system.
Even with some of the oldest public housing units in Kentucky, the curb appeal is excellent and the annual unit inspection conducted by HUD shows that the units are being very well maintained.

Mayor Denny Bowman, City of Covington, said, "The Housing Authority of Covington has a seventy-five year history
of providing high quality, affordable housing for the residents of Covington. They are ranked among the best
property owners in the City and well deserving of this recognition. It is a positive reflection of the hard work and dedication of the staff who, on a daily basis, are willing to go above and beyond expectations."

The HAC has begun to demolish the oldest units and it is replacing them with a variety of mixed-finance developments, involving both acquisition and rehabilitation. They are doing this by using a variety of creative mixed-finance options. The HAC is to be commended for being proactive in this area as well as for ongoing high occupancy rates, successful property management, maintenance of existing units, and innovative financing approaches to developing new housing. We applaud the HAC for its work that led to being selected as 2009 PHA of the Year.

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 100-249 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 40 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 Covington
• Medium PHA of the Year - Housing Authority of London
• Small PHA of the Year - Housing Authority of Flemingsburg
• Housing Choice Voucher Agency of the Year - Cumberland Valley Regional Housing Authority
• Resident Initiative Program of the Year - Housing Authority of Providence
• Family Self-Sufficiency Program of the Year - Housing Authority of Bowling Green
• Website Design of the Year - Housing Authority of Pikeville

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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.