Staff report

FRANKLIN

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials recently honored Franklin Redevelopment and Housing Authority with the 2019 Award of Merit in Program Innovation: Resident and Client Services for the Aging in Place category.

According to Von Boone-Randolph, Senior Services case manager, “the FRHA is conscious of the fact that we must provide appropriate health initiatives that allow ‘Aging in Place’ with personal dignity and functional independence of older adults. We know from Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being that social and physical environments impact one’s well-being. Our mission is to implement a series of programs of education, social and leisure activities that will allow seniors and the disabled to age in their homes with dignity, quality of life and independence. By partnering and collaborating with local chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., Buffalo Riders, United Way, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, The Diabetes Association, Virginia Tech Extension Program, Social Services, The Alzheimer’s Association and others, we will incorporate the following two components to accomplish our mission:

1. Achieving health equity

2. Creating social and physical environments that promote good health”

Transportation for any off-site activities will be provided by FRHA vans.

“Congratulations to our 2019 Awards of Merit recipients,” said NAHRO President Carl S. Richie Jr. “I am so proud of the great work they’re doing for their clients and their communities.”

The NAHRO Awards of Merit program was created 20 years ago to recognize agencies that found innovative ways of making a difference in their communities and in the lives of the people they serve by creating affordable housing, revitalizing their neighborhoods, and developing initiatives such as job readiness programs, public-private partnerships, disaster prevention projects, and more.

“The Awards of Merit catalog is more than a list of winners,” said NAHRO CEO Adrianne Todman. “It’s a yearly compendium of some of the best work being done by housers and community builders nationwide. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!”