San Antonio Housing Authority Wins Award of Excellence for Community Revitalization
(Washington D.C.-Nov. 17, 2020)-The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) is a 2020 recipient of the Award of Excellence for Community Revitalization by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for starting an urban farm to help reduce food disparity.
“This year’s award-winning agencies have given us innovative local solutions for increasing affordable housing stock and improving the lives of their residents,” NAHRO President Sunny Shaw said. “I am excited to honor them for their excellence.”
The Garcia Street Urban Farm is a result of SAHA receiving a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. The grant included six Critical Community Initiatives to help revitalize the neighborhood. The Urban Farm was one of those six projects.
The 4.1-acre urban farm serves as a food production and educational hub in an area of San Antonio with limited access to supermarkets, supercenters, grocery stores, or other sources of healthy affordable food.
SAHA was looking for a way to offer fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables to area residents. The farm grows a variety of seasonal crops, contains a medicinal garden, and a chicken coop. Designed with sustainability in mind, the farm conserves water to reduce flooding and drainage runoff. In addition to providing food for residents, people can also rent their own space to grow produce. This farm has become a focal point in the community, creating easier access to a healthy source of organic foods.
“NAHRO members have always been in the business of providing homes and improving lives – these awards commemorate shining examples of the vital work they do nationwide,” NAHRO CEO Adrianne Todman said. “My sincere congratulations to this year’s winners.”
About Awards of Excellence
Nominated from among the Award of Merit winners each year, these Awards are chosen by national juries and presented at the annual National Conference and Exhibition. They represent the very best in innovative programs in assisted housing and community development.
About NAHRO
NAHRO, established in 1933, is a membership organization of nearly 20,000 housing and community development agencies and professionals throughout the United States whose mission is to create affordable housing and safe, viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans, especially those of low- and moderate-income. NAHRO’s membership administers more than 3 million housing units for 7.6 million people.