Press Room
NAHRO's Highest Honor Awarded to Elizabeth C. Morris
Contact: Mary Barron, 202-289-3500
ext. 7223
WASHINGTON,October 25-- The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Officials (NAHRO) has selected Elizabeth Morris as the recipient of its 2007
M. Justin Herman Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements and innovation
in the housing and community development field. The award will be presented
Oct. 28 at NAHRO's National Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, Calif.
Ms. Morris has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego
Housing Commission since 1994, and has been with the Commission since 1979.
During her tenure as President and CEO, she has grown the agency from an annual
budget of $95 million to more than $230 million, and expanded its services to
include technical and financial assistance to home buyers and low-income owners
of homes in need of repair, assisting in the development of supportive housing,
and managing an extensive loan portfolio. Prior to joining the Commission, Ms.
Morris worked as a consultant for the National Institute for Mental Health and
a Senior Housing Planner for the County of San Diego. Her professional affiliations
include the California Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, Pacific
Southwest Regional Council of NAHRO, United Way of San Diego, San Diego Regional
Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army of San Diego, Regional Task Force on the
Homeless, San Diego Housing Federation, and many more. She earned her undergraduate
degree from UCLA, where she also completed Masters course work in Urban Planning.
Described by the San Diego Union-Tribune as the city's "housing missionary,"
Ms. Morris's contributions to housing and community development have become
national models to be replicated. Her many accomplishments include the creation
of a local affordable housing trust fund, successfully advocating for inclusionary
zoning, and building collaborations to house people with special needs. Her
agency is the recipient of many awards from NAHRO, the National Association
of Local Housing Finance Agencies, and HUD. Individual recognitions for Ms.
Morris include induction into the California Housing Hall of Fame by the California
Housing Consortium; honoree of Tribute to Women in Industry by the San Diego
YWCA; named one of "50 People to Watch in San Diego" by San Diego
Magazine; and the Civic Excellence Award from UCSD/San Diego Dialogue, among
many other personal accolades.
"Betsy exemplifies the very best characteristics of public service,"
NAHRO President Don Cameron said. "Her tireless work on behalf of those
economically challenged in our society spur her colleagues on throughout the
country. We are pleased to honor her with this award."
The M. Justin Herman Award is NAHRO's highest honor and most prestigious award,
and was established to provide a living acknowledgement for the standard of
excellence M. Justin Herman established in the field of housing and community
development. It recognizes an exceptionally qualified person who has made outstanding
contributions to the quality of life through service in the field of housing
or community development.
|
