friend of housing

The annual awards, presented by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, honor affordable housing champions -- individuals, projects, or organizations who have made exceptional contributions to create or support affordable housing in Washington state.

2021 Friend of Housing awardees

award categories

Margret Sevy Lifetime Achievement Award

Honoring individuals who over the course of their career have shown remarkable and sustained leadership and made an impactful contribution to affordable housing in Washington state.

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Friend of Housing Awards

• Emerging Leader: Honoring individuals new to the housing industry (under 3 years) who
  show exemplary leadership in their organization or community.

• Racial Equity Initiative: Honoring initiatives that address, in a demonstrably effective way, systemic racism in the housing industry.

• Empowering Housing Residents: Honoring initiatives or programs (multifamily or single-family) that are resident-led or that have resulted in residents becoming engaged and active in improving their community.

• Community Crisis Response: Honoring individuals, organizations or initiatives in the affordable housing field that have successfully responded to a community crisis, such as disaster, pandemic, major defunding, or other unexpected event.

• Housing Intersection: Honoring those who work outside the affordable-housing field and whose work has positively impacted affordable housing production, management, resident well-being, etc.

• Unsung Hero: Honoring someone who may not occupy a position high in profile or leadership, but whose efforts behind the scenes have had a far-reaching impact.

• Housing Inclusion: Honoring initiatives that reduce housing barriers (whether rental or homeownership) for those who have been traditional marginalized by race, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or other reason.

• Sustainable Housing: Honoring people or initiatives that focus on environmentally sustainable housing in such areas as construction, energy efficiency, property management, etc.

Nominees are evaluated based on their active commitment over the previous twelve months in:

• Innovation, leadership, creativity, and/or partnership that goes above and beyond the nominee's job duties.

• Specific examples, quantified results, and other details that show the nominee's impact.

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