Recognizing Those Making an Impact in the Affordable Housing Industry

    RALEIGH, NC, June 21, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Annually, CAHEC recognizes individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to the affordable housing industry at our Awards Luncheon during the Partners Conference. This year, the conference took place in downtown Raleigh with the Awards Luncheon closing out the conference on Wednesday, June 7th.

CAHEC is pleased to share the recipients of the 2023 CAHEC Awards:

• Investor of the Year - JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase is one of the world's oldest, largest, and best-known financial institutions and has been a long-standing investor across all tax credit platforms (LIHTC, HTC, NMTC, and solar). Since 2009, JPMorgan Chase has invested over 166 million dollars in CAHEC's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit funds and New Markets Tax Credit projects. The organization has been particularly active over the last three years, taking 30% ownership of each of our multi-investor fund, and have remained steadfast in its commitment to the market during the COVID pandemic. Recently, JPMorgan Chase announced its $30 billion, five-year commitment to help reduce systemic racism and provide economic opportunity to underserved communities, including the Black and Latinx communities.

• Development of the Year - East Haven Apartments
East Haven Apartments was recognized for ensuring low-income residents have access to much-needed affordable housing in and around Asheville, North Carolina. East Haven is a 95-unit affordable housing community in Swannanoa, NC, which provides affordable, energy-efficient homes for an estimated 200 residents. The property was developed in 2019 by Mountain Housing Opportunities, a nonprofit community development organization dedicated to improving homes, neighborhoods, communities, and the lives of low-income individuals and families. East Haven Apartments offers families earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income a convenient and modern place to call home that is safe and affordable.

• CAHEC Values Award - Lisa Lemos
CAHEC works towards its mission by adhering to six company values: quality, innovation, customer service, fun, leadership, and personal development. Every year, the Values Award is presented to an individual working in the industry who personifies one or more of these values. Lisa is an Asset Manager for Mosaic Development Group, where she exemplifies quality and customer service in everything she does. Lisa has been with Mosaic for 18 years but has over 25 years of multi-faceted real estate experience, including title services, portfolio community association management, and on-site property management. Residents and partners alike know Lisa as someone with a strong work ethic devoted to providing quality affordable housing.

• Outstanding Community Impact - D.C. Central Kitchen for the Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs and Justice
The award for Outstanding Community Impact was presented to D.C. Central Kitchen (DCCK) for the Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs and Justice to recognize the organization as a bold leader and innovator that combats hunger while breaking barriers to employment in the community. DCCK is an innovator of the social enterprise model through its culinary jobs training program for people with barriers to employment. The organization provides job training while providing meals for community organizations and schools, cafés, and community corner stores that generate income to support DCCK's mission to end hunger. The new Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs and Justice facility will allow for meaningful expansion of services and impact, but more importantly, it also gives many people a second chance to succeed.

• Resident Spotlight - Judy Gates
The Resident Spotlight award winner is a resident who, despite facing illness and financial adversity, gives tirelessly to those in need. Judy is a resident at Brooks Lane Apartments in Clayton, Georgia, where she spends most of her time serving and assisting the community that lives there. Judy explained that she sees helping others as her way of giving back and showing appreciation for the individuals who aided her while experiencing a time of poor health. Other residents describe Judy as an "earth angel" who is always happy to step up and never expects anything in return.

CAHEC is a community development organization based in Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, SC, that offers housing and life-changing opportunities to residents throughout its Southeast and Mid-Atlantic footprint. CAHEC's product areas include investing in low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and renewable energy credits. CAHEC also provides loan programs, wellness and education initiatives for residents, affordable housing development, and property management services. To learn more about their contributions to affordable housing and surrounding communities, visit CAHEC's website.

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