Mesa Employee Recognized for Work with Homeless

City of Mesa Employee Receives 2009 NAHRO Community Development Award

Mesa, AZ - City of Mesa Housing and Revitalization Director Carolyn Olson received the 2009 Community Development Employee of the Year Award from the Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Olson is being recognized for demonstrating excellence in the performance of duties; performing duties with the highest degree of integrity and professionalism and demonstrating courtesy, concern, responsiveness and dedication both within and outside the industry in the 08/09 fiscal year.

“I am honored and humbled that NAHRO has chosen to recognize my efforts,” Housing and Revitalization Director Carolyn Olson said. “Finding permanent housing for families in Mesa is reward enough, but this recognition serves as an additional reminder of the good work this department and City are doing to better the lives of community members and their families.”

Olson is being recognized for her work with nonprofit organizations and the homeless.  Olson found that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding that was specifically available for tenant based rental assistance was not currently being used. She researched how the funding could be used in collaboration with the Housing Choice Voucher Program, looked at current potential recipients and creatively put together a new program. As a result, the transitional housing programs in Mesa that serve homeless families were able to transition the families into permanent affordable housing for a year of Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) housing subsidy.  After one year, these families transition seamlessly into the Housing Choice Voucher program. The program will serve approximately 20 to 25 families per year.

Olson is currently working on several programs including the Housing and Urban Development -Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, which combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance with case management and clinical services, which are provided by the VA at its medical centers and in the community.

“Since coming to the City of Mesa, Carolyn has been a steward developing partnerships and collaborations that have benefited Mesa residents,” Mesa Neighborhood Services Department Director Ray Villa said.

NAHRO is a professional membership organization comprised of more than 23,200 housing and community development agencies and officials throughout the United States who administer a variety of affordable housing and community development programs at the local level. Arizona NAHRO is committed to the attainment of adequate and affordable housing, sound communities and professional development of the chapters’ members.

Source: City of Mesa

Technorati Tags: Arziona, Carolyn Olson, Mesa, NAHRO, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials