Award is an excellent opportunity to highlight successful work on the state and local level intersecting
health and housing
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it’s opening this year’s HUD Secretary Awards for Healthy Homes. Promoting healthy homes that foster strong, vibrant communities and families has been a top priority for Secretary Carson throughout his time at HUD.
First launched in 2015, the HUD Secretary’s Awards are presented annually to honor projects that exemplify excellence in five categories: affordable housing design, community planning, cooperative public/private efforts, healthy housing innovation, and historic preservation. The awards recognize projects that increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income households.
HUD’ s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) partners with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) in staging the national competition. Winners will be honored at NEHA’s Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition (July 15, 2020) in New York City.
“Every day, our grantees, stakeholders, and partners are helping people in their communities to have safer and healthier lives,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “This award is a way to thank them and recognize all the great and impactful work they do.”
Previously, awardees from a spectrum of sectors have been recognized for their contributions. Examples include scientific associations and universities, municipal lead inspection programs, and housing authorities. Given the multifaceted nature of the healthy homes field, there are six different award categories: Policy Innovation, Cross Program Coordination, Innovation in Education and Communications, Research, Federally Assisted Housing, and Privately Owned Housing.
Awardees must demonstrate that their programs have had an extraordinary impact in their communities and are replicable in other localities. Criteria include significant and quantifiable health, economic, and/or societal outcomes. Nominations are due March 10.
More detailed information, including deadlines, eligible organizations, the award categories, judging, and more, can be found at: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/SecretarysAward.