The Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) keeps bringing in the awards. AHA was recently recognized by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for developing and creatively implementing an innovative program that addressed the impact of foreclosures on the community. AHA Executive Director David Zappasodi and Curtis Boozer, Vice Chair of the Board of Commissioners, accepted the Award of Excellence during NAHRO's recent national conference in Nashville.

"It is a tremendous honor for the Arlington Housing Authority to be selected by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials to receive an Award of Excellence in Program Innovation - Community Revitalization,' said David Zappasodi, Arlington Housing Authority executive director. "I am blessed with the opportunity to work with a very talented and hard working staff and a dedicated Board of Commissioners. Mindy Cochran, housing operations manager; Amy Trevino, financial manager; and Michele Craven, administrative assistant, are the key Housing staff most deserving of this recognition. I consider it a privilege to work with them and the rest of the Housing team to serve the citizens of Arlington with quality housing programs and services.'

Arlington utilized a combination of resources to enable qualified homebuyers to acquire vacant, foreclosed single family homes in Arlington. The City's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding was used to acquire HUD and bank-foreclosed properties. By layering the NSP with a HUD Real estate owned program, HUD properties were purchased at 50 percent of appraised value. Acquired properties were rehabilitated and sold to qualified homebuyers.

According to Zappasodi, the program has effectively stabilized targeted neighborhoods hardest hit by home foreclosures. To date, 36 vacant foreclosed homes have been acquired, renovated and occupied by qualified homebuyers.

The final phase of the program includes the acquisition and demolition of two vacant foreclosed homes that were in seriously substandard condition. The now vacant lots will be redeveloped with new, highly energy efficient homes.