Download Press Release - Denver Housing Authority

CONTACT:
Stella L. Madrid I 720.219.9059
Community Affairs Officer
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2013
HOUSING AUTHORITY RECEIVES SEVEN 2013 AWARDS OF MERIT
FOR PROGRAM INNOVATION
DENVER, CO – The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) was presented seven (7) national
Awards of Merit by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
(NAHRO) honoring innovative programs at their July 2013 Denver Conference. DHA was
cited by NAHRO for Program Innovation: Resident and Client Services for the following
programs:
B-Cycle Partnership – Residents of the Denver Housing Authority’s Mariposa District
struggle with consistent reliable and affordable transportation options. Through a partnership
with Denver B-cycle (the first large-scale municipal bike sharing system in the United States),
110 Mariposa residents were provided with free bicycle memberships, helmets, and education
on biking safety.
With Every Heartbeat is Life – The With Every Heartbeat is Life (WEHL) program was
designed to address heart healthy choices and available healthy living options to public
housing residents.
Family Day A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children – Substance abuse affects families of
all ethnicities, affluence and age. DHA partnering with the Denver Office of Drug Strategy
participated in this annual event to unite parents and their children through conversational
engagement on friendships, extracurricular interests, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Enhancing Self Sufficiency Attainment – Financial Goals -- In an attempt to encourage true
economic self sufficiency for program participants, Denver Housing Authority (DHA)
implemented specific financial guidelines that clients must meet in order to complete the
Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program and cash out their escrow account.
FSS Program – Education Enhancement -- The Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS)
restructured with more options to meet with Resource Advisor and resulted in reduced
program violations and increased education by FSS clients.
Resident Achievement Program -- Whether pursuing economic self-sufficiency, or selfsufficiency through aging in place in the senior or disabled population, public housing
residents need consistent encouragement, support, and resources in order to achieve ambitious
goals.
2nd Annual Elvis Dumervil Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway -- Since 2011, Elvis Dumervil of
the Denver Broncos and local radio station KRFX 103.5 the Fox have teamed up with the
Denver Housing Authority (DHA) to help provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need.
ABOUT THE DENVER HOUSING AUTHORITY: DHA was established in 1938 as a quasi-municipal corporation with an
annual budget of $160 million. DHA is one of Denver’s largest subsidized landlords, serving 26,000 very low, low and middle
income residents and middle income residents and managing over 11,000 units located throughout the city.
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