At the 4th Annual City of San Antonio Housing Summit sponsored by the Housing and Community Development Department, the Neighborhood Action Department receive the 2005 Housing Pioneer Award in the category of Excellence in Development. The award is given to recognize the demonstrated initiative , commitment, creativity and innovation of individuals, neighborhood groups, not for profit organization, builder, developers, realtors, and corporations that promote sustaining decent and affordable housing in the community.

The award recognized the Housing & Neighborhood Services Department’s Affordable Showcase of Homes Program as meeting the criteria of a developer or development organization, which demonstrates a commitment to innovation and quality in the construction of affordable multi-family or single-family housing.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) selected the City of San Antonio as one of thirteen cities to receive the 2005 Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award. The award is named in memory of HUD’s late Chief of Staff, who devoted his life to expanding housing opportunities for all Americans.

This Affordable Communities award recognizes outstanding work by local governments to reduce regulatory barriers and promote affordable housing development for working families and others in need of reasonably priced housing options. On June 29, 2005, HUD honored all of the recipients during an awards ceremony, luncheon and roundtable at HUD Headquarters in Washington, DC. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso R. Jackson will presented this prestigious award to the City’s representative at the ceremony.

The City’s Affordable Showcase of Homes Program administered by the Neighborhood Action Department won the award for “addressing the twin problems of neighborhoods revitalization and regulatory barriers” in the Edgewood area, specifically with the construction of 52 news homes in the Arroyo Vista Subdivision.