The National Apartment Association (NAA) provides the latest in federal advocacy as the rental housing industry convenes in Washington, D.C., to promote responsible affordability solutions in the Federal Advocacy Outlook: Advocate 2023. The 118th Congress passed an $85 million competitive grant program based on the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act. This program will reward state, local, and regional jurisdictions that have made progress in improving inclusionary zoning practices, land use policies, and housing infrastructure to increase the supply of affordable housing. To read more, visit https://www.naahq.org/federal-advocacy-outlook-advocate-2023.

The 2023 Executive Preview details how the potential for an economic downturn has not dampened rental housing industry executives’ spirit or outlook. Some companies have weathered the post-pandemic challenges, such as inflation and workforce shortages, by entering new markets and developing new business models. Companies are beginning to leverage innovative technologies to meet these challenges head-on. Despite some potential headwinds in 2023, there is much to be excited about in the rental housing industry, including continued business expansion. To read more, visit https://www.naahq.org/2023-executive-preview.

The calendar might say January, but spring is just around the corner, and so is the deadline for nominating a property for one of the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA)’s 2023 Affordable Housing Vanguard Awards. The deadline is June 2. The application can be downloaded from the Vanguard Award webpage.

The Vanguard Award recognizes new, quality multifamily affordable housing development. The award pays tribute to developers of high-quality, affordable housing; demonstrates that exceptional new affordable housing is available across the country; reflects the creativity and innovation that must be present to create superior properties given the financing and other challenges to development; highlights results of private-public partnerships required to develop today’s affordable housing; and shares ideas for unique design and financing mechanisms with industry practitioners to further stimulate creative development in the affordable multifamily industry.

Your community could be one of NAHMA’s next Vanguard winners. Start working on your application today. The Vanguard Awards winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the NAHMA fall meeting in October 2023 in Washington, D.C.

The 2023 NAHMA Educational Foundation scholarship season is open, and the digital application is available online. The application was revised to make the application more user-friendly and secure more completed submissions and will only require a single reference this year. The application period will close May 12 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. The application will be available on the foundation’s webpage.

In 2022, 96 scholarships were awarded, worth a total of $336,000. Recipients came from 12 of the 16 AHMA’s. Over the life of the scholarship program, 1,097 scholarships worth a total of $2,597,250 have been awarded. More than 75% of eligible applicants have received scholarships. Applicants must meet the following requirements: completion of the application form, essay, one reference, Certification of Residency In Good Standing, and a grade transcript.

Please assist the foundation in promoting the scholarship program to your residents by downloading and sharing the promotional flyers (English version, Spanish version) available on the Educational Foundation’s webpage. The foundation is hopeful that 2023 will bring in more completed applications than in any previous years the program has existed.