A partnership of six real estate associations today announced a new national
awards program to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals and
organizations to promote homeownership by minorities. The real estate
associations include:
Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association of Southern California,
National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Chinese Real Estate
Association of America, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Korean
Real Estate Brokers of Southern California, and the National Association of REALTORS.
Each of the winners of the HOPE Awards (“Home Ownership Participation for
Everyone”) will receive a $10,000 prize and a trophy at a gala dinner at the
National Building Museum in Washington on Wednesday, October 10. Winners will
also discuss their work and share their experiences with housing policy makers
at a symposium at the National Press Club.
Categories for the awards include homeownership education, finance, project
of the year, real estate brokerage, public policy, media coverage and
leadership. Awards will be determined by a panel of distinguished judges based
on the impact of the nominee’s work on promoting minority homeownership, use of
innovative ideas, acceptance by the minority community, focus on minority
homeownership and focus on affordability. Applications for nominations opened
today and are due by July 2.
The partnership of real estate associations sponsoring the awards includes
the Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association of Southern
California, the Chinese Real Estate Association of America, the Korean Real
Estate Brokers of Southern California, the National Association of Hispanic
Real Estate Professionals, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers and
the National Association of Realtors.
Co-sponsoring organizations are the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National
Association of Home Builders.
The partnership issued the following statement concerning the HOPE Awards:
“Today more American families own their own homes than ever in history, but
not all Americans participate equally in homeownership. Nearly three out of
four white households own their homes, but less than half of minority
households enjoy the benefits of homeownership. This divide in the American
Dream suggests that cultural and ethnic barriers to homeownership remain alive
in our society, 33 years after passage of the Fair Housing Act.
“Across America, individuals and organizations are helping to lower the
barriers to minorities and change the color of homeownership. Credit issues,
homeownership education, lack of affordable housing, language barriers,
cultural sensitivities, access to real estate services—these are just some of
the issues that these unsung heroes are helping members of minority groups to
overcome.
“The HOPE Awards will recognize and honor these individuals and
organizations, and by doing so, raise public awareness that much work remains
to be done to reduce and eliminate barriers to minority homeownership.”
For further information about the HOPE Awards and for application forms and
instructions, contact Madeline Diehl at 800-445-0784 or visit the HOPE Awards
web site at www.hopeawards.org.
Published: April 17, 2001
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