Canadian Housing Advocate Receives International Housing and Community Development Award
(Washington, D.C. — October 26, 2018) – The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is pleased to announce that Robert Cohen of Quebec, Canada is the 2018 recipient of the John D. Lange International Award. An award presentation will be held on October 26 at the NAHRO National Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta, Ga.
Cohen has spent his professional career promoting and strengthening the social housing sector in Canada, the United States, and South Africa, and has helped expand access to affordable housing in communities around the world. As a consultant for the Dayton (Ohio) Metropolitan Housing Authority (DMHA) Cohen collaborated with DMHA, the City of Dayton and other government agencies to prepare a successful HOPE VI application and improve the social and economic conditions of low-income people in Dayton.
For eight years, Cohen lived in Johannesburg, South Africa where he worked alongside his South African colleagues in the Social Housing Directorate in the provincial government of Gauteng, the National Department of Housing, and the Johannesburg Social Housing Company to help manage and distribute social housing for the national, provincial and local government.
From 2000–2002, Cohen also served as president of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA), Canada’s only national association dedicated to expanding affordable housing. During the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly for an Overall Review and HABITAT II, Cohen represented CHRA as an authorized non-governmental organization and addressed the U.N. General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole with comments on future directions for the U.N. Habitat Agenda.
“Robert’s dedication to providing affordable housing to low-income families and individuals extended beyond his country’s borders,” said NAHRO CEO Adrianne Todman. “His accomplishments show that international collaboration and communication is vital to providing safe, decent, and affordable housing to communities around the world.”
About the John D. Lange Memorial Award
The Lange award was established in 1983 in the name of John D. Lange, Executive Director of NAHRO from 1951 to 1970, who actively participated throughout his professional career in international exchange and, in his retirement, carried out executive service assignments in Argentina, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
About NAHRO
NAHRO, established in 1933, is a membership organization of nearly 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.