Barbara Fields, Rhode Island Housing

Providence, RI Rhode Island Housing has been honored with two awards for program excellence by the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA). The awards in the Multifamily Management and Annual Report categories highlight Rhode Island Housing’s streamlined approaches to risk assessment and external reporting.

“Rhode Island Housing is honored to accept two prestigious awards for best practices in the industry by the National Council of State Housing Agencies,” said Barbara Fields, executive director of Rhode Island Housing. “These awards represent national recognition for Rhode Island Housing’s data-based decision making processes and external communications initiatives. We are charting a course of best practices in the industry to expand access to affordable housing and build a bridge to the middle class for more Rhode Island families.”

The awards were announced at the NCSHA’s Annual Conference, a gathering of state housing finance agency officials and NCSHA affiliates from across the country that took place during the last week of September in Nashville. The NCSHA Annual Awards for Program Excellence recognize best practices and are designed to encourage innovation in the industry. The NCSHA received more than 115 submissions from across the country for awards in seven categories this year.

Rhode Island Housing was recognized with a Multifamily Management Award for its improved asset management risk rating model for multifamily developments. The new model allows the agency to collect more data to monitor trends across geographic areas, compare developments, and assess the performance of the sponsors of multifamily housing developments. Rhode Island Housing uses the improved data to strategically guide the organization’s asset management and resource allocation for multifamily developments.

The Annual Report Award was presented to Rhode Island Housing for the outstanding design and composition of the agency’s 2014 annual report. The redesigned 2014 annual report tells the story of the agency’s yearly accomplishments using charts, infographics and customer profiles. Using the theme of “Building a Bridge to the Middle Class,” the report illustrates how the agency meets the housing needs of our state while encouraging job growth, building strong neighborhoods and investing in the economy. Rhode Island Housing also received the Annual Report Award in 2012.

In addition, Fields was elected to serve a one year term on the NCSHA’s board of directors at the annual meeting. The board is responsible for setting goals and developing strategies to further the NCSHA’s initiatives. Fields brings nearly three decades of experience in expanding access to affordable housing, building strong communities and championing economic development efforts to her new role on the NCSHA’s board of directors.

“I am honored to be elected to serve on the board of the National Council of State Housing Finance Agencies,” said Fields. “I look forward to sharing more of Rhode Island Housing’s best practices with audiences across the country in the year ahead.”