AWARDS

This award is for a project that has gone to extraordinary means to create affordable homeownership opportunities.  Examples might include homeownership options developed to support recent economic growth opportunities, or new homeownership units created in hard-to-serve regions of the Commonwealth.   

Scoring criteria include whether the development— 

• Addresses specific homeownership needs in Virginia 

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to meeting a community’s affordable housing needs  

• Demonstrates an exceptional effort in its development 

• Has a concept and design consistent with the client group’s housing needs  

• Embodies the highest standards to meet clients' needs and explores new ways of addressing affordable homeownership concerns 

This award is for a multifamily or rental housing development that is innovative in its concept and design and exceptional in meeting the needs of the target client population. Nominations may be for new construction, renovation, preservation, or adaptive reuse projects. Examples might include a housing development designed for senior citizens’ needs or redevelopment of a formerly blighted building to now provide integrated, mixed-income housing. 

Scoring criteria include whether the development— 

• Addresses specific homeownership needs in Virginia 

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to meeting a community’s affordable housing needs 

• Demonstrates an exceptional effort in its development 

• Has a concept and design consistent with the client group’s housing needs  

• Embodies the highest standards to meet clients’ needs and explores new ways of addressing affordable homeownership concerns 

This award is for a housing program or service that has demonstrated innovative and creative efforts in providing services or assistance to citizens in need of help in meeting any aspect of housing needs. Examples might include financial counseling programs for prospective homeowners, programs to assist homeless citizens’ transition into permanent housing or highly effective wrap-around services for residents. 

Scoring criteria include whether the development— 

• Addresses specific homeownership needs in Virginia 

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to meeting a community’s affordable housing needs 

• Demonstrates an exceptional effort in its development 

• Has a concept and design consistent with the client group’s housing needs  

• Embodies the highest standards to meet clients’ needs and explores new ways of addressing affordable homeownership concerns 

This award recognizes new technology, advances in construction methods, utilization of innovative materials, or deployment of a housing type not broadly utilized across Virginia to create more affordable housing options. Multifamily and homeownership projects are both eligible. Examples could include advances in manufactured housing, resiliency efforts to protect and preserve housing, advanced materials to improve durability of housing or which reduce the life-cycle cost for housing. 

Scoring criteria include whether the innovation— 

• Addresses specific homeownership needs in Virginia 

• Represents an innovative use of materials, construction, or method or deployment of housing type to address a housing need 

• Demonstrates exceptional effort in the development of this innovation 

• Provides an opportunity to address affordable housing needs  

• Embodies the highest standards to meet clients’ needs and explore new ways of addressing affordable homeownership concerns 

This award honors an individual whose recent work and dedication stands out as truly remarkable. This is not a lifetime achievement award but focuses on an individual’s more recent accomplishments.  For example, nominations can include individuals who championed an affordable housing project in the face of significant community resistance, someone who created a means to facilitate resident involvement in project decision-making, or an individual who created a new approach program to better serve the community.   

Scoring criteria include whether the individual-- 

• Leads efforts that demonstrated a significant benefit for Virginia’s residents 

• Has measurable and defined accomplishments over a recent, specific period  

• Displays consistently a high level of mission-driven effort 

• Is considered an innovator and leader by their peers