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New HUD Awards Recognize Efforts to Remove Affordable Housing Barriers

The deadline for nominations is March 15.

Interested individuals or groups may nominate either a state or local government that has demonstrated extraordinary achievement in eliminating regulatory barriers to housing affordability. State and local governments may also nominate themselves or other local units of government for awards. Submissions will be evaluated and selected by a diverse group of senior-level HUD staff in the department’s Affordable Communities Initiative Team.

"It's important to recognize and reward communities that assume a leadership role to encourage the production of affordable housing," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "Across this great nation, local communities are removing barriers to affordable housing and opening more doors to homeownership for hard working families."

Regulatory barriers include public statutes, ordinances, regulations, fees, processes and procedures that significantly restrict the development of affordable housing without providing a commensurate health or safety benefit. These barriers can effectively exclude working individuals such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses and returning veterans from living in the communities where they work.

In addition, senior citizens often find it extremely difficult to find suitable housing near their adult children while young families likewise face difficulties in finding a home in the communities where they were raised.

Local communities interested in sharing innovative strategies to overcome regulatory barriers to affordable housing can click here to visit HUD’s Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse.

“The National Association of Home Builders strongly supports HUD’s efforts to remove excessive and redundant regulatory barriers that push up the cost of housing,” said NAHB President David Wilson. “I think the Affordable Communities Awards are an excellent way to recognize the efforts of local governments to develop regulatory policies that make it possible to produce housing that is affordable to working families.”

To download an application for the 2005 awards, click here. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 15.

For a detailed description of the nomination and selection process, click here.

Register Now for the 2005 NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference

The NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference & Awards Gala is the premier industry event for the multifamily industry. Join NAHB Multifamily and Pillars Conference Chairman Ron Terwilliger for the best networking and educational opportunity the industry has to offer. Click here for more information on this event. To register now for this event, click here.

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