HUD HONORS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF PIKEVILLE WITH OUTSTANDING
WEB DESIGN AWARD

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.

The Housing Authority of Pikeville (HAP) was honored with a Best Practices Award for Website Design of the Year after being unanimously chosen by the HUD selection committee. The HAP has created a customer-friendly
innovative website design that allows customer interaction.

Pikeville's website design is a functioning tool that caters to the needs of the customer. An outstanding highlight found on the web site is its introduction to the city of Pikeville. The information is inviting and allows the customer
to understand the rich characteristics of the community. Quality pictures are provided on each page of the site.
Along with the pictures, the website presents a descriptive narrative about each site and its amenities.

It allows the customer to self-assess and determine if they qualify for the Pikeville housing assistance program.
This feature also provides customers the ability to complete an online application for housing, which saves them
travel time to the agency. Staff contact information can be found on the website. The site has essential links that guide customers through the housing system with ease. Another impressive feature is the online bulletin board that provides customers with current information on upcoming community events, office closings, and staff trainings.

The Pikeville website design is a useful instrument that is visually appealing to customers. Overall, the website is instrumental in connecting users to the Pikeville Housing Authority making it this year's Website Design of the Year winner.

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 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 and Family Self-Sufficiency Program 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

###

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.