NeighborWorks America Receives Annual Housing Person of the Year Award from the National Housing Conference

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This week NeighborWorks America received the Annual Housing Person of the Year Award from the National Housing Conference (NHC) at NHC's 41^st Annual Housing Person of the Year Gala at the National Building Museum. NeighborWorks America was honored as an important leader in moving housing forward from the housing crisis that the nation has faced for the last several years.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130621/DC36426)

This year's theme, Housing's Path Forward, highlighted the essential work of stabilizing neighborhoods, preventing foreclosures, creating affordable rental housing, and counseling households.

NeighborWorks America, which creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities, supports a network of more than 235 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NHC honored NeighborWorks America and Omni New York LLC with the award. According to NHC, "Efforts by the honorees and many others in these areas sustained families and communities during the worst of the foreclosure crisis and are essential in the rebuilding work still to be done."  

"NHC is very excited to honor two organizations that have not only worked so hard to help residents weather the darkest days of the housing crisis but have also helped to light housing's path forward as we address the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow," said NHC President and CEO Chris Estes. "NeighborWorks America's housing counseling programs have helped more than 1.5 million people with foreclosure intervention counseling and have prevented a deepening of the foreclosure crisis that has wracked the country for the past five years."

In 2012, NeighborWorks organizations provided nearly 122,000 individuals and families with education and counseling, owned and managed more than 102,000 rental homes, and assisted more than 305,000 households with housing. NeighborWorks America has provided foreclosure intervention counseling to more than 1.5 million homeowners since 2008.

"NHC has advanced the housing field in significant ways, and NeighborWorks America is proud to receive this award," said Eileen Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America, who accepted the award for the organization. "NHC and NeighborWorks America are strong partners in helping to ensure safe, affordable housing for individuals and their families."

NHC's Housing Person of the Year Gala has become one of the housing world's biggest annual events, drawing hundreds of housing professionals and leaders from Washington, DC and around the country.

For more information on NeighborWorks America, go to nw.org. To learn more about NeighborWorks America's work in foreclosure response, watch the video at http://www.nw.org/network/foreclosure/default.asp.

About NeighborWorks America
For 35 years, NeighborWorks America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

SOURCE NeighborWorks America