For an application, click here.
Introducing the NAHMA 2010 Affordable Housing Vanguard Award™
The NAHMA Affordable Housing Vanguard Award has been created to recognize newly developed affordable multifamily housing communities that showcase quality design and financing through their creation.
The Vanguard Award celebrates success in the multifamily affordable housing industry
by recognizing and benchmarking new, quality multifamily affordable housing development. The award will –
- Pay tribute to developers of high-quality affordable housing
- Demonstrate that exceptional new affordable housing is available across the country, and that it is a positive addition to any neighborhood
- Demonstrate that the affordable multifamily industry must be creative and innovative to create exceptional properties given the financing and other challenges to development
- Highlight results of private-public partnerships required to develop today’s affordable housing
- Share ideas for unique design and financing mechanisms with industry practitioners to further stimulate creative development in the affordable multifamily industry
The Vanguard Award complements NAHMA’s Communities of Quality (COQ) National Recognition Program, through which multifamily properties are certified as having achieved a high standard of excellence in the way they are managed, the services they provide residents, the experience and training of personnel, and other criteria. However, newly developed properties are too new to meet criteria of NAHMA’s COQ National Recognition Program (particularly in the inspection and financial audit categories), hence the creation of the Vanguard Award to recognize these properties. As the properties mature, they will become eligible – and will be encouraged – to enter NAHMA’s COQ National Recognition Program.
Vanguard Award Categories:
A. New Construction
B. Major Rehabilitation of an Existing Rental Housing Community
C. Major Rehabilitation of a Non-Housing Structure into Affordable Rental Housing
D. Major Rehabilitation of a Historic Structure into Affordable Rental Housing
Who May Apply:
Affordable multifamily housing communities that are less than three years old (as of May 1, 2010) may apply (based on date of completion of new construction or completion of major rehab). Affordable is defined as a property participating in a government funded, insured or otherwise sponsored program that results in rents that are below market-rate housing.
Where and When to Apply:
Applications should be submitted to the National Affordable Housing Management Association by May 1, 2010. Please email your PDF application to NAHMA at joe.thomas@nahma.org, or mail a CD containing your PDF application to NAHMA Vanguard Award, 400 N. Columbus St., Suite 203, Alexandria, VA 22314. For more details, please contact NAHMA Manager of Member Services Joe Thomas at 703-683-8630, ext. 12.
Entry Fees:
The entry fee is $150 per property for members of NAHMA or an AHMA, and $325 per property for non-members. Please reference the name of the applicant property when submitting payment, via either credit card at the NAHMA Webstore at www.nahma.org, or via check payable to NAHMA and mailed to NAHMA Vanguard Award, 400 N. Columbus St., Suite 203, Alexandria, VA 22314.
The Judging Process:
NAHMA will convene a distinguished panel of multifamily affordable housing practitioners in early May 2010 to conduct the judging process.
The Awards Ceremony:
Winners of the Affordable Housing Vanguard Awards will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the NAHMA Summer Meeting in June 2010.
Beyond the Recognition – Other Benefits of Participation:
- A congratulations letter and certificate
- A draft press release for use with local media
- A draft letter for sending to Congressional representatives
- A free subscription to NAHMA News ($100 value)
- A crystal award
- Inclusion in a press release distributed by NAHMA to national media and trade press
- Inclusion in a detailed article on award winners in NAHMA News and on the NAHMA website
How to Apply:
Applications must be submitted in PDF format. For full details on how to apply, click here.
