Nominations Sought for Pennsylvania's 2011 Supportive Housing Award

Award Honors Efforts that Help Residents Live Independently

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Individuals and organizations that are creating quality housing opportunities for Pennsylvanians can be nominated for the state's 2011 Supportive Housing Award.

The award - sponsored by the departments of Public Welfare and Aging and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency - recognizes significant efforts to increase the availability of supportive housing in Pennsylvania, which is defined as housing that is:

• Safe and secure;
• Affordable to its target population (not exceeding 30 percent of monthly household income);
• Capable of coordinating readily available, flexible and responsive services in the community;  
• Accessible to older adults, those with disabilities and those with low incomes.    

The combination of affordable housing and supportive services such as case management and housekeeping assistance helps Pennsylvanians maintain their independence. The Supportive Housing Award recognizes those who have shown leadership and innovation in creating new housing models and strategies.

This is the second year the state has sought nominations for the award. Last year, the award went to Christopher Gulotta, former executive director of the Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities, in recognition of his three decades of work fostering supportive housing in the county.

Nominations are accepted through April 22 and are open to any individual or organization, public or private, including builders, architects, planners, public housing authorities, municipal governments, financial institutions and non-profits.

The award winner will be announced in June at the PHFA Housing Services Conference in State College.

For more information on the award, e-mail [email protected].

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare