During 2005, the Office of Affordable Housing Programs (OAHP) will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Authorized under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, the HOME program is the largest Federal block grant to State and local governments designed exclusively for low-income housing. Each year HUD allocates approximately $2 billion among State and local participating jurisdictions (PJs) nationwide. Every State and locality, in turn, partners with local community housing development organizations (CHDOs) to mobilize community resources in support of affordable housing

To date, of the $19.6 billion in HOME funds allocated by Congress, more than $16 billion has been committed to affordable housing throughout the nation. Thanks, in part, to the unique community partnerships fostered by the HOME program, State and local governments have been able to make their HOME dollars go farther by leveraging an average of $3.14 in other public and private funds for every HOME dollar invested. As a result of these investments, more than 550,000 units of affordable housing have been completed and 240,000 additional units are underway.

To mark the anniversary of the HOME program and honor the contributions of State and local PJs, HUD is hosting two national one-day conferences in Washington DC. On January 13, 2005, OAHP will join the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) and the Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA) at their annual HOMEStrengths Conference to recognize the contributions of State PJs to the HOME Program. The accomplishments of local PJs will be recognized on January 18, 2005 at a one-day conference, sponsored jointly by the National Community Development Association (NCDA) the National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED), and the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA), prior to NCDA's Winter Legislative Conference. During each of these conferences, the Department will present HOME Program ";Door Knocker"; awards to State and local PJs that have made substantial HOME Program contributions in the following areas:

• Special Needs Housing Project
  
• Homeownership Program
  
• Rental Housing Project
  
• Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program
  
• Innovative Project Design or Architecture
  
• Reaching Underserved Populations
  
• Effective Property and Asset Management Approaches
  
• CHDO Performance Measurement
  
• Neighborhood Revitalization Project
  
• Innovative Rural Housing (states only)

State and local PJs that believe they have an innovative and successful program or project that falls into one or more of the above award categories are encouraged to download the online nomination form and guidelines, and mail or fax it to their CPD Representative in the HUD Field Office. The HUD Field Office will review and rate the nominations and forward their recommendations to OAHP in HUD Headquarters. OAHP will make the final determination for the awards. HUD will only accept nominations from State and local PJs whose programs or projects meet the following criteria:

• The nominated program or project is an eligible HOME activity, as well as an eligible use of HOME program funds;
  
• The nominated project or program does not have any outstanding monitoring or IG findings;
  
• The State or PJ has met their Commitment, Disbursement and CHDO Reservation requirements;
  
• The program or project is remarkable in its history, design or management;
  
• The success or performance of the nominated program or project can be clearly demonstrated through sound program and financial data.

State Nomination Form | Local Nomination Form

Nominations must be submitted to the appropriate HUD Field Office no later than Wednesday, November 24, 2004. OAHP will review all nominations and present HOME Program Door Knocker awards at the January 13 and 18, 2005 conferences in Washington, D.C. Questions regarding either the January conferences or the HOME Program Door Knocker awards may be sent to the OAHP mailbox.