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NAHRO Awards
RIHA Receives National Awards for Community Enhancement Initiatives
Rock Island Housing Authority (RIHA) has been named a 2011 recipient of the prestigious National Association of
Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Merit Award for its work developing programs designed to strengthen
the Rock Island community at large.
"In these times of economic changes and budget uncertainty in our nation, these awards are particularly important
because it showcases those agencies and authorities who overcame the adversities and flourished," said NAHRO CEO
Saul N Ramirez Jr. "Now more than ever with the federal governments' role in flux, we need local housing authorities
to step up. This years' award winners are doing exactly that."
The NAHRO award recognizes outstanding achievement in housing and community development programs through the nation.
The award was presented to RIHA in late July at NAHRO's National Conference in Louisville, KY for the following programs:
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Down by the Creek: Just one part of the Manor Homes Summer Program, Down by the Creek helps
RIHA children understand the importance of animals and how humans not only affect their lives, but how the
animals affect our lives as well. |
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Financial Literacy Training: This 12-week Peace University Program hosted by Dave Ramsey was designed to
empower and give hope to everyone from the financially stable to the financially distressed. |
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Neighborhood Networks Model Status: RIHA is the first Public Housing Authority to receive Model Status
conveying national recognition by HUD. Having advanced through all three classifications - Designated, Certified
and Model -RIHA plays a pivotal role as a quality resource for residents and the community and provide residents
skills and training critical to their success in today's competitive job market and in life. |
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Section 3 Program Implementation: The program is responsible for giving low-income residents job opportunities
that might not otherwise have been available. |
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Spencer Towers 504 Relocation Assistance Program: RIHA successfully relocated residents through a systematic
relocation plan supported by detailed implementation that included multiple tenant meetings and informational
handouts, flyers and newsletters - as well as fielding hundreds of questions and calming any fear and uncertainly
felt by residents. |
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Staff In-Service Training: Consists of eight training sessions for 20 members where staff reeducates themselves
on the latest policies and procedures affecting their industry and in turn helps the agency achieve their mission
and goals more efficiently and effectively. |
"NAHRO members have been leading the way with innovative solutions to address resident services, management and
operations, affordable housing preservation and sustainable development, and economic revitalization in their
communities," said NAHRO Senior Vice President Betsey Martens. "They have stepped up, taken advantage of opportunities
to find new and creative ways to address local housing needs and we are proud to recognize their achievements."
The 2011 NAHRO Awards of Merit recognize outstanding achievement in housing and community development programs
in five categories.
| 1. |
Administrative Innovation recognizes innovative methods in areas such as maintenance, community relations,
and interagency cooperation. |
| 2. |
Program Innovation - Affordable Housing includes special programs for homeownership, public/private partnerships,
and innovative financing. |
| 3. |
Program Innovation - Community Revitalization includes innovative use of programs in areas such as economic
development, neighborhood preservation, and creative financing. |
| 4. |
Program Innovation - Resident and Client Services includes innovative use of programs such as special activities
for children, families, and the elderly, anti-drug programs, social services, and self-sufficiency. |
| 5. |
Project Design includes efforts such as new housing design, housing modernization, enduring design, and
landscape design. |
Since 2005, RIHA has received 32 National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Merit Awards
in the following categories:
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Development and Implementation of the RIHA Asset Management Plan |
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Best Practices Applied to Project-Based Management |
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Best Practices Applied to Strategic Improvement |
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Development of new single-family for sale homes and multi-family rental units |
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Development and implementation of Resident Relocation plans |
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Multiple Family Self-Sufficiency Programs |
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Staff Training Programs |
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, established in 1933, is a membership organization
of over 20,000 housing and community development agencies and professionals throughout the United States whose
mission is to create affordable housing and safe, viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all
Americans, especially those of low- and moderate-income. NAHRO's membership administers more than 3 million housing
units for 7.6 million people.
For additional information, please call 309.788.0825 or e-mail
Housing@riha4rent.org.
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