The national winners' artwork will be featured in the 2018 "What Home Means to Me" calendar, which is shared with all members of Congress, local leaders and the NAHRO membership.  Each winner also receives a $100 Visa gift card. Zerin will receive an iPad and a framed copy of her poster. She and a guardian will also be provided with transportation to and lodging at NAHRO's Washington Conference in April 2018, where they will also tour the Capitol.

This year, our blue-ribbon panel of judges consisted of Jennifer Schwartz, National Council of State Housing Agencies; Richard Y. Nelson, Jr., Past NAHRO CEO; and Dominique G. Blom, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

See story on NAHRO's website.  

Order calendars here.

See the presentation below.

Referral Voucher Program

To combat the overwhelming odds of leasing a rental for participants, the Spokane Housing Authority (SHA) created the Referral Voucher Program (RVP). Typically, after waiting years for a voucher, only 37% of voucher recipients were successful leasing a rental. In addition, it took about seven months from call-up to lease-up because of the complexity of verification requirements and area vacancy rates of 1.6%. RVP targets assistance to vulnerable households and pairs it with services aimed at securing and stabilizing housing for part call-up to lease-up participants. The results are an 84% lease-up success rate, taking an average of just 41 days from call-up to lease-up.

Ms. Pamela J. Tietz, PHM Executive Director Spokane Housing Authority 55 West Mission Avenue Spokane, WA 99201-2398 Phone: 509-252-7139 Email: ptietz@spokanehousing.org

Speakers of the House: An Investment in Employees

The most valuable asset any governmental agency has is its employees. As a large segment of the workforce prepares for retirement, King County Housing Authority (KCHA) recognized that a critical determinant of their organizational future is the degree to which they can retain, train, and advance their emerging leaders. Through their agency supported Toastmasters club called Speakers of the House, they created a space for staff to enhance their communication and leadership skills while building an organization where employees at all stages of their careers are encouraged to thrive and grow.

Mr. Stephen Norman Executive Director King County Housing Authority 600 Andover Park West Tukwila, WA 98188-3326 Phone: 206-574-1100 Email: stephenn@kcha.org

Blue Springs Crossing Apartments

This project started with a land donation in what was thought to be the "perfect location" for low income families to live. The problem was the lot is a small triangle formally used as a watering pond for livestock, so how could it be converted into a jewel of a project nestled up against a high end single family home development? This would be the only apartment complex this community would have and a low income one to boot. The project had to fit in its place, look high end and prove everybody wrong who opposed it. In order to do this, a courtyard design was used and the siding, roof, and color schemes were all chosen to fit into the existing community's look and feel.

Mr. Dale Inslee, PHM Executive Director Northeast Oregon Housing Authority Post Office Box 3357 La Grande. OR 97850-7357 Phone: 541-936-5360 Ext. 22 Email: dinslee@gmail.com

A Book for Every Child Initiative

A Book for Every Child Initiative 

Recognizing that the key to breaking the cycle of poverty is education, the Housing Authority of the City of Pocatello (HACP) has taken a first step in its education plan by working to get books into the hands of the children they serve. The Book for Every Child Initiative insures every child that comes into the office or is listed on a form, is given an age appropriate book. Additionally, Free Little Libraries have been stocked with books at the HACP properties making book access easier for the children served.

Ms. Sunny Shaw, PHM,CME Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pocatello Post Office Box 4161 Pocatello, ID 83205 Phone: 208-233-6276 Email: sunny@hacp.services

See all the winners here.

The application process for 2018 Awards is now open!

Pacific Northwest Regional Award for Innovative Services (PRAIS) Awards of Merit applications submitted to NAHRO will be reviewed by a regional committee.  The committee selects applications to represent the region and those are forwarded to NAHRO to be considered for NAHRO National Awards of Excellence. From these applications, PRAIS winners are selected and are awarded at the PNRC-NAHRO Annual Conference. Applications must be submitted by April 1st (no fooling!).

Click here for information about awards.

Friends of Housing honored for leadership,  inspiration