CMHC for Housing Industry Professionals and Community Groups	December 2007

Housing Awards — Best Practices in Affordable Housing

SHOW YOUR INITIATIVE!

If you’ve created a unique solution to enhance housing affordability in Canada, it is time you received the national recognition you deserve!

CMHC is interested in receiving applications demonstrating best practices that have improved housing affordability. These initiatives may include large or small projects and demonstrate various ways to create affordable housing that meets the needs of the communities they serve.

In 2008, CMHC will present up to 16 awards to honour the nation’s Best Practices in Affordable Housing. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to showcase your housing initiatives!

Winners will receive recognition on the national stage

Winners of the Housing Awards will receive national recognition for their affordable housing solution.
Winners will meet and network with CMHC’s partners and housing representatives from across the country.
Winners will have the opportunity to promote their award-winning initiatives at housing-related events in their regions, or in other parts of Canada.

What is the Housing Awards Program about?

The CMHC Housing Awards Program was created in 1988 to identify, recognize, showcase and share best practices that have helped to improve the quality, choice and affordability of housing in Canada. The Program honours the people and organizations creating affordable housing solutions across Canada and helps share their best practices with communities across the country.

What types of projects are eligible?

Buildings — Residential buildings and all facets of housing development that have addressed affordability
Housing Finance — Projects/initiatives that have created and/or demonstrated new ways to reduce housing costs both at the time of purchase and on an ongoing basis
Neighbourhoods — Initiatives where the cost of building/owning/operating homes has been reduced by creating neighbourhoods
Housing with Resident Services — Initiatives that have addressed affordability by creating supportive housing of various kinds
Aboriginal Housing — Best practices that have created affordable housing for Aboriginal people, on- and off-reserve

Who can enter the 2008 Housing Awards competition?

Members of the housing and construction industry
Governmental departments responsible for housing and social services
Financial or lending institutions
Non-profit groups and housing co-operatives
Non-governmental organizations, volunteer associations and community groups
Religious and charitable organizations
Aboriginal groups

The primary applicant must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status in Canada.

How to determine if your housing initiative is eligible?

To be considered for a 2008 Housing Award, your initiative must meet the following criteria:

addresses housing affordability in Canada
completed or implemented between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2008
already demonstrated in at least one existing, practical application
Note: Housing projects initiated by CMHC are not eligible.

How will entries be judged?

Entries will be judged by an independent national committee made up of housing industry experts and representatives from business and academia. Winners will be announced at the Awards event in November 2008.

What do previous winners have to say about winning a Housing Award?

Listen to testimonials from previous Housing Award winners and see photos of their winning projects! (This presentation requires Flash which may be downloaded free of charge)

Applications must be received at CMHC's National Office by 5:00 p.m. local Ottawa time, April 18, 2008.

The Guidelines and Application Form has been made available here for viewing and downloading as an Adobe Acrobat PDF, with the application form available separately as an Adobe Acrobat PDF (fillable form) for those who wish to prepare applications. Please note Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8 is required.

Housing Awards — Guidelines
Housing Awards — Application Form

For more information, please contact:

Project Officer
Responsive Programs
Policy and Research
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7

Telephone: 613-748-2526
Fax: 613-748-2402
E-mail: hap@cmhc.ca