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| Lexington Housing Authority Named 2010 Kentucky Housing Authority of the Year Lexington Housing Authority staff was presented the 2010 Kentucky Housing Authority of the Year Award at the KHA Mid-Year Conference Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, February 9th. Pictured front row (left to right): Sean Cooper, Michele Lee, Kim Jent, Athena Richards, Kyna Koch, Vice Chair - Board of Commissioners, Carol Spencer, HUD Louisville Office, Daryl Smith, Commissioner, Austin Simms, Carolyn Smith, Kimberly Jackson, Bill Garr, Greg LaRue and Tracy Jarvis; Pictured back row (left to right): Dot LeSage, Dana Rice, Dana Tincher, Carolyn Fish, Barry Holmes, Andrea Wilson, Dana Mason, Linda Gates, Natisse Rice and Tonya Christopher. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Louisville Office named the Lexington Housing Authority as the 2010 Kentucky Housing Authority of the Year at the 2011 Kentucky Housing Association (KHA) Mid-Year Conference in Lexington on February 9th. The central Kentucky agency is the second largest public housing agency in the state and has been in existence since 1934. The Lexington Housing Authority owns and manages a portfolio of 1,484 units of affordable housing and operates a 2,555 unit Housing Choice Voucher program with a combined operational budget in excess of $25 million, while offering individuals and families opportunities for homeownership. Most recently the Lexington Housing Authority successfully completed a $20 million HOPE VI grant (the agency’s second HOPE VI grant) leveraged to $80 million that revitalized the city’s oldest and largest public housing site (Bluegrass-Aspendale) that once had as many as 963 units. Six phases of development have replaced the old site and it is now comprised of 292 rental units, of which, the last 176 units were leased within 60 days of completion, a subdivision known as Equestrian View with 102 houses available for homeownership that is still under construction and a new $14 million elementary school that complements the new site. The agency was recognized in 2010 by the Commerce Lexington as the Small Business of the Year (Nonprofit) and received the 2010 Environmental Award from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for an agency-wide recycling program. The Housing Authority’s executive director, Austin Simms, was recognized in 2010 as Community Achiever of the Year by the YMCA Black Achievers program and he received the 2010 Downtown Lexington Corporation Perfect Partner Award. Through the years the Housing Authority has successfully developed relationships with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the Kentucky Housing Corporation, the Department of Housing & Urban Development – Louisville Office, Lexington-Fayette County Urban League, Lexington Habitat for Humanity, REACH, Inc. and many other affordable housing advocates to accomplish their mission to provide safe, decent and affordable housing in Lexington. HUD's Assistant Secretary for Public & Indian Housing Visits Lexington 
On Monday, October 18, Assistant Secretary Sandra B. Henriquez (pictured above left) was the special guest of the Lexington Housing Authority at the dedication of Rain Garden Way, a new affordable housing community of 16 single-family houses available for homeownership. A ribbon cutting to open the new subdivision was a highlight of the ceremony. Pictured at the ribbon cutting are: (left to right) Daryl Smith, LHA Board Member, Marie Johnson, LHA Board Member, Don Clem, HUD - Louisville Office, P.G. Peeples, Urban League of Lexington, Rachel Childress, Lexington Habitat for Humanity, Mayor Jim Newberry, Secretary Hernriquez, HUD Washington, Austin Simms, LHA Executive Director, Karen Cato-Turner, Director - HUD Region IV, Kyna Koch, LHA Board Vice Chair, Larry Isenhour, LHA Board Chair and Anthony Wright, Mayor's Designee to the LHA Board. See More Click Here to View Photos of the Rain Garden Way Dedication at Tops in Lex VOUCHER PROGRAM SECRETARY VISITS LEXINGTON 
A delegation representing Housing Choice Voucher Special Partners in Lexington paused for a photo with Milan Ozdinec, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing Voucher Programs while touring the Housing Authority's newest HOPE VI funded development - Bridlewood Place and Grand Oaks. Pictured from left to right: Cecil Dunn, Executive Director, HOPE Center, Don Clem, Director of Public Housing, HUD Louisville Office, Milan Ozdinec, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing Voucher Programs, Don Ball, Chairman, HOPE Center Board of Directors, Dot LeSage, Director of Asset Management, Lexington Housing Authority and Barry Holmes, Procurement and Development Manager, Lexington Housing Authority. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) visited Lexington on September 13. Milan Ozdinec made a stop in Lexington to visit the Lexington Housing Authority's HOPE VI initiatives. During the visit, Ozdinec visited the facilities of the special partners of the Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program - The Privett Center, Virginia Place and the HOPE Center for Women. Officials with the special partner groups discussed with the Secretary how well the partnerships work. SIMMS NAMED COMMUNITY ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR
Lexington Housing Authority Executive Director Austin Simms was named the 2010  Community Achiever of the Year by the YMCA Black Achievers Program. Simms along with 24 high school seniors and seven adult achievers were recognized at the group’s 25th Anniversary Banquet Saturday, April 17 at the Marriott Griffin Gate Hotel. In his remarks at the banquet Simms said, “I have been for a long time advocating for affordable housing in this community and some how I feel tonight in accepting this award that there is an acknowledgement that the work we do and the people we serve are indeed an important part of the basic fabric of this community.” The Community Achiever of the Year recognition is given to a person in the community who evokes positive change through their leadership and commitment to the betterment of the community. Past Community Achiever of the Year recipients include educators, members of law enforcement, community activist and local government officials. YMCA Black Achievers is an educational and cultural enrichment program that prepares middle and high school students for college. It is the catalyst that provides exposure to present and future educational/career opportunities, instills positive social values, and enables students to fulfill their potential by creating opportunities for adults and the community to participate in their lives, and empowers families to assist students in reaching higher goals. Its participants have earned more than $9.4 million dollars in scholarships within the last 24 years. The program has mentored more than 7,700 students throughout Central Kentucky. ### | |
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