Awards and Accolades

We take pride in delivering Affordable Housing with a Purpose. Columbia Housing's mission of leveraging the power of housing to build a foundation for individuals and families to thrive expands beyond brick and mortar, and into the lives of the families we serve through connecting them with life-changing economic and educational empowerment opportunities.

We are pleased to highlight below the awards, grants, and notable community engagement accolades bestowed upon us and our residents, cementing our principles of putting residents first, creating a climate of transparency and accountability, increasing operational efficiencies and rebuilding, and maintaining public trust.

We thank our community partners who play an essential role in all of these acknowledgments. #ThePowerofPartnerships, WE are Better Together.

Beyond Bricks & Mortar

2024 | NAHRO | Advocate of the Year: Yvonda A. Bean

2023 | CCHRCO | Commissioner of the Year: Ernest Cromartie, III
2023 | SERC-NAHRO | Commissioner of the Year: Ernest Cromartie, III
2023 | NAHRO | Outstanding Professional of the Year: Yvonda A. Bean
2023 | United Way of the Midlands - The Chairman's Award - Public Sector
2023 | United Way of the Midlands - Best in Class - Public Sector 100+ Employees
2023 | NAHRO Award of Merit Administrative Innovation: Building Dedications
2023 | NAHRO Award of Merit Administrative Innovation: The People's CEO Campaign * Award of Excellence Nominee *
2023 | NAHRO Award of Merit Administrative Innovation: THIS is Columbia Housing
2023 | NAHRO Award of Merit Resident and Client Services: Senior Care PACE
2023 | NAHRO Award of Merit: Summer Youth Employment Program * Award of Excellence Nominee *
2022 | United Way of the Midlands | Division Chairman's Award - Local Government
2022 | United Way of the Midlands | Best in Class - Public Sector 100+ Employees
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Allen Benedict Court: Forever In My Heart
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Blood Drives Save Lives
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Changing Agency Culture Through Four Key Pillars
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Looking for Landlords
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: CH Cares COVID-19 Basket Initiative
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Max the Vax: Fighting Vaccine Hesitancy
2022 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Women in Housing/Women's History Month
2021 | HUD - Resident Opportunity & Self Sufficiency Grant - $401,726
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: 5 Reasons Why you Should Participate in the 2020 Census
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Celebrate Sunday
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: CH Reads
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: CH Votes
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: COMET Transportation to the Polls
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Food Boxes to the Rescue
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Fall Festival - Housing America Day
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Flu Shots for Seniors
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Get Out The Vote Parade
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Grassroots Mask-Making Project
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Healthy Seniors
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Homeownership Goes Virtual
2021 | NAHOR Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Home-Spot, Hot Spot
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Housing Choice Voucher Program Briefings Goes Virtual
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Junior League Christmas Giveaway
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Meals & Mask
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Online Income Change Self-Certification
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Onsite COVID-19 Testing
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Operations Digital Signage
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Power of Partnerships, We are Better Together
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Resident Executive Council Meetings Goes Virtual
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Resident Fire Education & Safety Classes
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Senior Social Engagement Program
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Virtual Resident Training Series
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Youth Employment Program Goes Virtual
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Resident & Client Services: Zooming to the Polls
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: 12- Month Action Plan
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: 96K United Way Virtual Campaign
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: CEO Door-to-Door Chats
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Board Meetings Goes Virtual & Paperless
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Brand Identity & Logo Design
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Coffee Chat Virtual Staff Meetings
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: CommUNITY Impact Report
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: COVID-19 Emergency Response & Business Continuity Plan
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Digital Transformation - Innovation to the New Normal
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: E-Blast Communications
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Employee Spotlight
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Fighting Crime with National Night Out
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Onboarding Goes Virtual
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Online Interactive Website Calendar
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Online Staff Portal
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Public Meetings Go Virtual
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Reimagining Employee Engagement
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Robust Virtual Communications Website & Business Portal
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: Spread the Word, Not the Virus Campaign
2021 | NAHRO Award of Merit - Administrative Innovation: The Break Room
2021 | Central Carolina Community Foundation - ConnectHOME Grant
2020 | HUD - Family Self Sufficiency Grant - $109,352
2020 | CCHRCO's: Best Website of the Year Award, Extra Large Housing Authority Category
2020 | The McNulty Foundation & Richland Library: Wi-Fi Hotspot Pilot Project - $7,500

Brick & Mortar

2021 | SC Dept. of Mental Health: Community Housing Development Grant - $500K (Haven at Palmer Pointe)
2021 | SC Dept. of Mental Health: Community Housing Development Grant - $500K (Oaks At St. Anna's Park)

Rental Assistance

2021 | HUD: Emergency Housing Vouchers - $656,220 (84 Families)
2021 | HUD: Replacement Vouchers - $992,139 (127 Families - Marion St. Highrise)
2021 | HUD: Conversion Vouchers - $1,483,104 (204 Families - Hillandale Apartments)
2021 | City of Columbia: HOPWA Grant - $597,825 (50 Families)
2020 | City of Columbia: HOPWA Grant - $597,825 (50 Families)
2020 | HUD Continuum of Care: Homeless Expansion Grant - $141,684
2020 | HUD Continuum of Care: Housing First Expansion Plus - $59,184
2020 | HUD Continuum of Care: Permanent Supportive Housing - Chronic - $229,351
2020 | HUD Continuum of Care: Permanent Supportive Housing - Disabled - $304,103
2019 | HUD Continuum of Care: Homeless Expansion Grant - $141,684
2019 | HUD Continuum of Care: Housing First Expansion Plus - $59,184
2019 | HUD Continuum of Care: Permanent Supportive Housing - Chronic - $229,351
2019 | HUD Continuum of Care: Permanent Supportive Housing - Disabled - $304,103

Community Engagement

2021 | Richland County Government & Community Service: Organization of the Month - May 2021
2020 | Columbia Business Monthly: 50th Most Influential - Ivory N. Mathews
2020 | United Way of the Midlands: Best in Class Public Sector > 100 Employees
2020 | United Way of the Midlands: Campaign Director of the Year - Jamie Drew
2020 | United Way of the Midlands: Chairman's Award - Public Sector Division
2020 | United Way of the Midlands: Platinum Award
2019 | United Way of the Midlands: Chairman's Award - Public Sector Division
2019 | Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless (MACH): Servant's Heart Award Nominee - Jamie Drew
2019 | Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless (MACH): Lifetime of Service Award Nominee - Gay Ferguson

Overall Business Performance

Coming Soon

Defining acronyms listed above

CCHRCO - Carolina's Housing Redevelopment and Codes Officials

SERC-NAHRO - Southeastern Regional Council of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials

NAHRO - National Association of Housing Redevelopment & Redevelopment Official

HOPWA - Housing Opportunities for Persons With Aids

HUD - United States Department of Housing & Urban Development