GAINESVILLE - The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), which represents almost 3,000 housing agencies, redevelopment agencies and affiliates nationally, has named the Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) as winner of an Award of Merit in Housing and Community Development.
The award was presented for the GHA’s Community Health Initiative in 2014, a sustainable living effort that combined urban gardening, exercise, nutrition and hygiene to improve health, fitness and eating habits among public housing youth.
To make the Community Health Initiative a reality, the GHA partnered with agencies and organizations such as the Hall County Master Gardeners, the Hall County Extension Service, the Hall County Health Department District 2, United Way of Hall County, Brenau University, Lanier Technical College Dental Hygiene program, Young Men’s Service League, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, In His Name of Gainesville, and others.
“We increasingly see the need for this type of programming because it’s a such an impactful use of resources,” said Beth Brown, GHA Executive Director.
Founded in 1949, the GHA is home to about 1,500 individual residents in 495 units scattered throughout the city. The agency fosters many community partnerships to offer residents ongoing classes, workshops and other personal improvement training geared toward financial, social and personal independence.
