HACLA Receives Six National Awards for Outstanding Achievement

NAHRO Honors Los Angeles Housing Authority for Project Design, Administrative Innovation and Community Revitalization

Los Angeles - The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was recognized last week by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) with six Awards of Merit, with two of the awarded projects also receiving the distinction of Awards of Excellence, the organization's highest honor. Those projects, Century Gateway Park and Pearl Park, are two community green spaces within the Jordan Downs redevelopment in Watts. All six awards represent outstanding achievements in community development, innovative service delivery and transformative housing design.

NAHRO is the nation's leading association for affordable housing and community development professionals. It's nearly 20,000 members provide and manage housing for more than 8-million low- and middle-income residents nationwide, advancing sustainable, equitable and thriving communities. For over three decades, NAHRO has celebrated exceptional projects, programs, and services that strengthen public housing and improve the quality of life in communities across the country.

"HACLA's six awards reflect the strength of a housing authority that is willing to innovate, build meaningful partnerships, and remain focused on the people and communities we serve," said HACLA Board Chair Cielo Castro. "These honors recognize more than individual programs-they reflect a shared commitment to creating healthier neighborhoods, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that public housing continues to evolve to meet the needs of Los Angeles residents. We are proud of the work being done across HACLA and grateful to our residents, staff, partners, and community leaders whose collaboration makes this progress possible."

"Congratulations to our fellow award recipients across the country whose work is improving lives and strengthening communities," said HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramírez. "At HACLA, we believe housing is a platform for opportunity. These awards of excellence and merit recognize our agency's collective efforts to expand housing, connect residents to opportunity, and build healthier, more resilient communities. We are honored by this recognition and grateful to the residents and partners who help turn vision into impact."

HACLA received awards in the following categories:

Awards of Excellence:

• "Century Gateway Park, Jordan Downs Redevelopment" - A new one-acre urban park within the Jordan Downs redevelopment, adjacent to 250 new housing units and designed to provide new green space and community recreation. The park features native and drought-tolerant landscaping, approximately 35 trees, meandering pathways, permeable surfaces, and sustainability-focused infrastructure and educational kiosks. (Project Design)
• "Pearl Park, Jordan Downs Redevelopment" - A half-acre public green space constructed alongside the Cypress View affordable housing development at Jordan Downs. The park features water features, a children's play area, shade structures, open lawn, game tables, picnic tables, and smart trash receptacles. Pearl Park opened January 2026, advancing HACLA's commitment to deliver nine acres of new green space as part of the $1B Jordan Downs redevelopment. (Project Design)

Administrative Innovation:

• "Davis Bacon and Related Acts Labor Compliance Program and Resources" - This comprehensive support system helps contractors, developers, and partners meet federal prevailing-wage and labor standards requirements on applicable HACLA-funded construction projects. The program provides guidance, training tools and materials, payroll resources, and compliance support to ensure adherence to federal and state labor requirements.
• "HACLA House our Vets Campaign" - This collaborative with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System accelerates permanent housing placements for unhoused Veterans through HUD-VASH vouchers and supportive services. To date, more than 1300 veterans have been housed. The program streamlines the housing process, connects Veterans with available rental units, and engages property owners to expand access to safe, stable homes.

Community Revitalization:

• "Ramona Gardens Green Connections Project" - A neighborhood greening effort that introduces trees, rain gardens, and improved pedestrian connections around HACLA's Ramona Gardens community to enhance shade, air quality, stormwater management, and access to green space.

Project Design:

• "Stay Cool in the Summer - Heat Mitigation Home Improvement Project" - This climate-resilience initiative focused on upgrading HACLA's public housing with energy-efficient air conditioning and ceiling fans to help residents stay safe and comfortable during extreme heat. The project is part of HACLA's broader climate-resilience efforts to reduce heat exposure and improve indoor living conditions for residents.

Across these six projects a shared thread emerges: HACLA's commitment to innovative, practical solutions that improve residents' quality of life while strengthening community infrastructure. From streamlined services and greener public spaces to climate-ready homes and major redevelopment investments, HACLA continues to demonstrate how public agencies can drive meaningful, community centered change.

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About HACLA

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), established in 1938, provides affordable housing, rental assistance, and supportive services to more than 200,000 Angelenos. Its administrative portfolio includes 164 properties - 13 of which are public housing developments - totaling over 12,000 units, along with more than 60,000 Housing Vouchers and Certificates through the Section 8 program. For more information, visit www.hacla.org.

Contact

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