Community Housing Partners in Christiansburg is the recipient of the Housing Education and Research Association’s national Friend of Housing award. CHP earned this award for its role and commitment in supplying affordable housing in the region.

Here is the press release from Community Housing Partners.

Christiansburg, Virginia – Christiansburg-based Community Housing Partners (CHP) 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 (HERA) 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 October 28-31 in Roanoke, Va.

The HERA Friend of Housing 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 been 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.”

About HERA:
The Housing Education Research Association (HERA) is an organization that promotes excellence in the planning, development, delivery, and service of decent, safe, sanitary, affordable, ecologically sound and appropriately designed housing for all people. Its members include educators and students in the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Switzerland. To learn more about HERA, visit www.housingeducators.org.
About Community Housing Partners: Community Housing Partners (CHP) is a 501(c)(3) community development corporation established in 1975 to serve the needs of low-income and low-wealth individuals in the southeast. Our mission is to create affordable, green, sustainable housing opportunities and services for the people and communities we serve. CHP’s activities include sustainable development, architectural design, construction, energy services, homeownership, housing management, and resident and youth services.

CHP is a chartered member of NeighborWorks® America, and a member of both the Housing Partnership Network and the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises. To learn more about CHP, visit www.communityhousingpartners.org.