KCDC Receives Award Of Excellence At National Housing Conference

Published: 12/16/2010 1:48:48 PM

KCDC Receives Award Of Excellence At National Housing Conference

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has received a 2010 Award of Excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment (NAHRO). The award commended KCDC for an innovative approach to improving the energy efficiency of affordable housing.

KCDC Board Chairman Juanita U. Cannon and Board Member Craig Griffith accepted the award on behalf of KCDC at the NAHRO national conference.

“This is a tremendous honor, we were so proud to be a recipient of this award,” said Cannon. “It is wonderful to be recognized for the positive changes we are making in the quality of affordable housing.”

The NAHRO Awards of Excellence give national recognition to innovative housing and community development projects, programs and services provided by housing agencies throughout the country. Winners are selected from among Award of Merit entries by a national selection panel.

KCDC received the award for the development of their Section 8 Rating Tool for Weatherization Standards. Through the Section 8 Federal Housing program, KCDC administers subsidized housing assistance to tenants living in privately owned rental properties.

“We have made a concerted effort to make the properties we manage more energy efficient as well,” said KCDC President and CEO Alvin Nance. “By installing energy-conservation measures in all 17 of our public housing developments and offices we have save over $208,000 annually in electrical costs alone. This Section 8 Rating Tool allows us to help reduce energy costs for our Section 8 clients and expand our environmental effort as well.”

During routine inspections, each Section 8 property is evaluated to determine its energy efficiency using a newly developed uniform rating system. If the efficiency rating is low, a property owner’s rent increase request can be denied. The rating system also helps make prospective tenants aware of possible high utility costs.

“With a change in process we have raised the bar of what is expected of property owners,” said Nance. “Through these market incentives, we have found a way to encourage better standards of energy efficiency in affordable housing in Knoxville.”

KCDC has also been able to help property owners faced with the up-front costs associated with upgrading weatherization of the unit. Using the rating tool as a measure of eligibility, KCDC has partnered with the Knoxville Community Action Committee to help property owners needing weatherization upgrades obtain funding through a $4.9 million U.S. Department of Energy weatherization grant obtained by the CAC.

“This is the first such system to encourage energy efficiency in Section 8 housing and a model for other agencies to follow,” said Nance. “I am glad NAHRO is calling national attention to this program. These measures benefit the tenant as well as the environment, and helps further our mission of being the premier provider of affordable housing in Knoxville.”

KCDC is the housing authority and redevelopment agency for Knoxville. Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville. For more information, visit www.kcdc.org.