Christiansburg housing organization earns national award
Kimberly J. Mitchell (from left), assistant professor at Virginia Tech and CHP board member; Catherine LaPrade, assistant vice president of property management at CHP; Jessica Griffin, regional property manager at CHP; and Dr. Rosemary Goss, Residential Property Management Advisory Board professor at Virginia Tech. Photo courtesy of Community Housing Partners
Christiansburg-based Community Housing Partners has been a strong advocate for affordable housing since its beginnings in 1975, and recently its efforts were recognized by the largest organization of housing educators in researchers in North America when the group designated CHP as the recipient of its national Friend of Housing award.
The Housing Education and Research Association selected CHP for its “significant role in supplying housing in the region,” and its long history of commitment to mission, according to Dr. Rosemary Goss, Resident Property Management Advisory Board professor at Virginia Tech, and a member of HERA. The Friend of Housing award was presented to CHP at the HERA annual conference held Oct. 28-31 in Roanoke.
The award was created to recognize a person or organization that has played a major role in improving an aspect of housing. Goss said that the award can go to individual housing advocates or legislators who have made a difference, as well as to organizations that have done outstanding work. The award is not always given to acknowledge affordable housing groups, she said, and it is not an award that is made every year.
“This year, it just seemed so appropriate to recognize CHP,” Goss said. “They have been so instrumental in supplying housing in the region, and we were having our conference in Roanoke. CHP started in this area, and they stayed in this area, and they have been extremely impactful.”
The award was accepted on behalf of CHP by Catherine LaPrade, CHP assistant vice president of property management.
“HERA is an important organization that is devoted to addressing the challenges of housing, and building our capacity to meet these challenges in new ways,” said LaPrade. “We are particularly honored that this group of educators and researchers appreciates the work that CHP has done to create affordable, sustainable communities of choice.”
– Submitted by Melissa Byrd Hammond, Community Housing Partners
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