Baton Rouge, LA (December 17, 2007) – The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency hosted its 2nd Annual Community Awards Presentation on Saturday, December 15. The awards recognized individuals and groups that have been instrumental in helping the agency pursue its mission of advancing the development of energy efficient and affordable housing for low and moderate income families in Louisiana. Select LHFA employees were also presented with Customer Service awards.

The festivities were led by LHFA President Milton Bailey and LHFA Chairman Wayne Woods. “This is a great opportunity for us to acknowledge our valued partners and the wonderful work that they’ve helped us accomplish this year,” said Bailey. “There is still a great deal of work to do and we look forward to the upcoming year.”

Below is a list of the awards that were presented:

• Mixed Income Housing: Matt Schwartz. The Domain Companies
• Rural Housing: Robert Whittington
• Supportive Housing: Robin Wagner, LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals
• Single-Family Mortgage Lending: Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company
• Property Management: Stanton Dossett, II, Fairfield Properties
• Elderly Housing: Clara Burke, Lafayette Council on Aging
• Advocacy in Housing (Exposing NIMBYism): Ashley Heard, LA Association
of Nonprofit Organizations
• Advocacy in Housing (Advocating Fair Housing): James Perry,
Greater N.O. Fair Housing Action Center
• Innovation in Housing: Lenny Kopowski, Lodgic Distinctive Modular Homes
• Leadership in Housing (Capitalizing the Housing Trust Fund):
Rep. Lydia Jackson and Rep. Cheryl Gray
• Leadership in Housing (Establishing the Housing Trust Fund):
Rosalind Peychaud, Neighborhood Development Foundation
• Leadership in Housing: Wayne Woods. LHFA Board of Commissioners
• LHFA Employees Awards:
o Ricky Patterson, Compliance
o Annie Robinson, Information Technology
o Collette Munson, Contract Administration
o Urshala Hamilton, Tax Credit
o Loretta Wallace, Program Administration
o Collette Mathis, Internal Audit
o Jatis Harrington, Accounting
o Barry Brooks, Administration
o Mary Boudreaux, Single Family
o Tina Powell, Program Administration

The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA) was created by the Louisiana Legislature to address the shortage of safe and affordable housing in Louisiana. Since 1980, LHFA has administered federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of energy efficient and affordable housing for low and moderate income families. Post-Katrina, LHFA has been a viable resource in the development of rental housing and homeownership finance opportunities.