The Home Ownership Participation for Everyone (HOPE) Awards is a national industry awards program that recognizes individuals and organizations that are making outstanding contributions to increase and sustain minority homeownership, revitalize communities, and expand affordable housing opportunities.
Winners receive $10,000 and paid travel expenses to attend the HOPE Awards in May 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Category Descriptions
Education Award – Recognizes an organization that has made an extraordinary commitment to educating minority homebuyers about achieving or sustaining homeownership. Nominees are organizations providing pre-purchase homebuyer education and counseling, financial literacy education and counseling, post-purchase homeownership education, and foreclosure prevention and intervention counseling.
Finance Award – Recognizes an organization that has helped minority homebuyers overcome financial barriers to achieve or sustain homeownership. Nominees are providing downpayment or closing cost assistance; access to safe, affordable loan products; or savings programs.
Project Award – Recognizes a housing project or development that increases the supply of affordable homes built and marketed to meet the housing needs of minority homebuyers. Nominees are homebuilders, community-based organizations and public-private partnerships.
Real Estate Brokerage Award – Recognizes a professional brokerage for promoting minority homeownership by offering a full range of real estate services, such as homebuyer education; access to financial counseling or safe, affordable loan products; multilingual language services and materials; or strong community partnerships.
Criteria
Impact (20 points) Entries must demonstrate success in eliminating disparities and overcoming barriers to achieve or sustain minority homeownership.
Innovation (10 points) Programs should demonstrate innovative thinking and at least one element that is pioneering or distinctive.
Minority Focus (10 points) Programs must address homeownership needs or barriers specific to minority populations.
Affordability (10 points) As the greatest barrier to minority homeownership, special consideration is given to programs that advocate for affordability and greater housing access.
Submission Instructions
Mail hardcopy materials to:
The HOPE Awards
National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Deadline
Entries must arrive by Friday, December 17, 2010. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Questions
Contact Sara Wiskerchen at 202/ 383-1013 or swiskerchen@realtors.org.