NAHRO Announces 2023 Award of Excellence Winners
Washington D.C. — The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is pleased to announce that twenty agencies have been awarded twenty-three Awards of Excellence for 2023.
These programs and properties represent the best of the best: outstanding innovators and achievers in housing and community development. The winners were selected by national juries from among 61 nominees (selected from 147 Award of Merit winners). The NAHRO Awards of Merit program, serving as the first tier, has honored over 6,000 programs since its inception in 1989.
“NAHRO is thrilled to celebrate the exceptional work of our members. We are clear about the challenges housers face, so it brings me great joy to balance the conversation by honoring a diverse range of success stories as challenges are overcome all across the country. Year after year, I’ve been inspired by the hard work and creativity our members put into serving their communities, and this cohort is no exception.” said NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele.
Three agencies were awarded multiple Awards of Excellence this year.
The Cook Inlet Housing Authority won two Awards of Excellence: in Affordable Housing for Ch’bala Corners—a 48-unit multi-generational development —as well as in Community Revitalization for The Nave—a community hub that sits on the traditional and current homelands of the Eklutna Dena’ina and works to recognize, honor and promote Alaska Native culture and values.
The Los Angeles County Development Authority was also honored twice: The Orchard Arms Solar Project—where solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems were installed at its public housing sites reducing resident electricity costs by up to 40%—was awarded in Administrative Innovation while Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park Phase 1A—a former oil storage site transformed into a 120-acre park with community event space—was awarded in Project Design.
Finally, Opportunity Home of San Antonio’s Legacy at Alazán development—an 88-unit mixed income development that replaced distressed public housing with 40 public housing units, 40 affordable units and eight market-rate units—took home awards in two categories, Community Revitalization and Project Design.
Sixteen of the winning agencies traveled to the 2024 NAHRO Washington Conference where they were honored for their achievements.
The complete 2023 Awards of Excellence winners are:
Administrative Innovation
- Common Ground Café, Clarksville Neighborhood and Community Services
- HACLA Law Clerk Academy, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
- Orchard Arms Solar Project, Los Angeles County Development Authority
- CodeRED Tenant Alert System, Seattle Housing Authority
Affordable Housing
- Ch’bala Corners, Cook Inlet Housing Authority
- Buena Esperanza – Permanent Supportive Housing, City of Anaheim Housing Authority
- Sacramento Homekey Program, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
- Access and Opportunity for Senior Housing, Housing Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish
Community Revitalization
- The Nave, Cook Inlet Housing Authority
- Sharswood Grocery Outlet: Forgotten No More, Philadelphia Housing Authority
- Legacy at Alazán, Opportunity Home of San Antonio
- Hybla Valley Community Center, Fairfax County Dept. of Housing/Community Development
Project Design
- Rosefield Village, Housing Authority of the City of Alameda
- Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park Phase 1A, Los Angeles County Development Authority
- Altgeld Family Resource Center, Chicago Housing Authority
- Lemington Senior Housing, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh
- The Manton Pathway, Housing Authority of the City of Providence
- Legacy at Alazán, Opportunity Home of San Antonio
Resident and Client Services
- Strategies to Improved Landlord Satisfaction and Retention, Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino
- Food Distribution and Nutrition Education for Youth and Families (HFDK), Denver Housing Authority
- Opening New Doors, Randolph County Housing Authority
- Advancing Community Employment Program, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Neighborhood Early Learning Connectors, King County Housing Authority
The winners will be honored at NAHRO’s Washington Conference, April 8-10, and additionally featured in the Spring/Summer edition of the Journal of Housing and Community Development.