-by Housing Assistance Council
Washington, D.C., November 20, 2014 – Several distinguished individuals will receive awards from the Housing Assistance Council recognizing their rural housing work at the local and national levels. The honors will be presented at a December 4th ceremony at the 2014 HAC Rural Housing Conference in Washington, D.C.
Nominated by their peers and selected by HAC’s board of directors, four honorees received the Skip Jason Community Service Award, which recognizes individuals whose efforts have improved the housing conditions of the rural poor in their communities. It is named for Robert M. “Skip” Jason, a long-time housing activist with considerable community experience, who died in 1982 while employed as HAC’s Government Services Director. This year’s awardees are:
- Brad Bishop, Self-Help Homes, Utah
- Martha Mendez, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, California
- Retha Patton, Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation, Tennessee
- Andres Lazaro Saavedra, Rural LISC, Washington, DC
“These individuals represent the very best of people working to build stronger rural communities,” said Moises Loza, HAC’s executive director. “With these awards, HAC thanks not only these seven people, but also many, many others who are dedicated to ensuring that everyone in the United States has a decent, safe, affordable home.”
Brief biographies of the awardees are attached.
About the Housing Assistance Council
A national nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., and founded in 1971, the Housing Assistance Council helps local organizations build affordable homes in rural America by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, research, training and information services. HAC’s programs focus on local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependency, and self-help strategies. HAC is an equal opportunity lender.
Skip Jason Award
Brad Bishop, Provo, UT – Since creating Rural Housing Development Corporation in 1998, Brad has been awarded and completed 8 successful 523 Grants provided for over 350 homes completed in rural Utah areas. His efforts in making the Mutual Self-Help Program a success in rural Utah and Wasatch counties in Utah has had an impact on more than 1,415 people, in 350 families, with a place to call home. Brad has been involved in multiple projects outside of Self-Help housing. He was involved in the development and management migrant farm labor housing; partnered to develop and restore an historic property and into single-family homes; and partnered on multiple Low Income Housing Tax Credit project for seniors. Brad is committed to affordable housing. He serves on many boards of organizations that assist affordable housing National Rural Housing Coalition, Neighborhood Housing Services of Provo, Utah Housing Coalition, NeighborWorks Provo and National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials. Brad has 18 years combined housing experience with Rural Housing Development Corporation. His positive and contagious attitude and great leadership abilities have improved many communities throughout rural Utah.