VHDA Wins National Affordable Housing Award for Granting Freedom Program
Richmond, VA – November 12, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) – The Virginia Housing Development Authority recently won a national affordable housing award for Granting Freedom, a home modification program for wounded veterans.
Granting Freedom is a grant program that provides home modifications up to $4,000 on owned or rental property for Virginia veterans wounded in combat. Grant funds may be used to modify bathrooms, widen doorways, lower countertops and install chair lifts, wheelchair ramps, visual smoke detectors and other modifications for improving home accessibility and safety.
“We are pleased that our Granting Freedom program won this national award because this recognition affirms VHDA’s mission of helping Virginians attain safe, quality affordable housing,” said VHDA Executive Director Susan F. Dewey. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to honor and assist Virginia’s veterans through the Granting Freedom program.”
While the federal government provides a package of benefits for returning veterans, home modification funds are only provided for disabled soldiers who own their own home. The unique feature of Granting Freedom is that it provides grant funds for home modifications regardless of whether homes are owned or rented. To date, the Granting Freedom program has helped 44 wounded veterans make necessary modifications to their owned or rented homes.
“The stair chair I received through VHDA’s Granting Freedom program has made my life 100 percent better,” said Ed Lynk, a grant recipient and retired U.S. Marine. “It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread and the greatest gift I’ve been given. I know other veterans can benefit from this program – especially those with mobility problems.”
Disabled veterans interested in the program can get information and download application forms by visiting www.vhda.com. From the homepage, click the “Getting Around” icon followed by the “Accessibility” icon. Any questions may be directed to Julia Perkinson at (804) 343-5751.
The National Council of State Housing Agencies presented VHDA with the Award for Program Excellence during the recent 2008 NCSHA Annual Conference & Tradeshow. VHDA’s Granting Freedom program won in the “Home Improvement and Rehabilitation” category.
Now in its 24th year, the mission of NCSHA’s awards program is to share information about the most successful housing programs, identify industry best practices, recognize exemplary housing finance agency efforts, and encourage HFA innovation. The winning programs were judged on originality, innovation, a proven track record in the marketplace, cost/benefit ratio, and measurable benefits provided to targeted customers.
NCSHA is a national, nonprofit organization created by the nation’s state HFAs to assist them in increasing housing opportunities for lower income and underserved people through the financing, development, and preservation of affordable housing.
VHDA is Virginia’s mortgage finance agency. Created in 1972 by the Virginia General Assembly, its mission is to help low- and moderate-income Virginians attain quality, affordable housing. It does so by providing consumers with low-interest rate loans to purchase or renovate homes. VHDA also lends money to developers for the development, rehabilitation and renovation of affordable apartments.
CONTACT:
Brian Matt
804-343-5520, (c) 804-652-8341
Brian.Matt (at) vhda (dot) com
