Rural Housing Leader Recognized
7 Jul 2008
Contact:Leslie Strauss, Housing Assistance Council Dan Stern, Rural LISC |
For Immediate Release:July 7, 2008 |
Stand Up for Rural America Honors HAC's Moises Loza
Moises Loza accepts his Award from Steve Fitzgerald of Bank of America
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2008) - "To Moises Loza," reads the curved glass plaque, "with tremendous thanks for a life devoted to making rural America work."
The plaque was awarded earlier this month to Moises Loza, Executive Director of the Housing Assistance Council, by Stand Up for Rural America, a national coalition dedicated to helping rural community developers gain the attention, resources and policy support their work deserves. Loza has worked for almost four decades to improve rural housing, most notably as HAC's executive director since 1989. HAC works to improve housing conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places in the United States.
"Stand Up for Rural America wanted to recognize Moises. He is an inspirational leader who has stayed the course and made HAC the most important national organization supporting better rural housing," explained Sandra Rosenblith, Senior Vice President of Rural LISC, which staffs the Stand Up campaign.
"It's an honor to receive this award," said Mr. Loza. "I accept it on behalf of the people at local organizations around the country, who do the real work of improving rural homes and communities."Mr. Loza expressed his appreciation for the work of the Stand Up coalition, particularly the visibility it has brought to rural community development issues.
Scott Berghaus (left) and Steve Fitzgerald accept Bank of America's award from Stand Up for Rural America Steering Committee Chairman Bob Warwick
Mr. Loza's award was one of two presented at the fifth national Stand Up for Rural America Day. The other recipient was Bank of America, recognized for its commitment and continuing investments in making rural America work. Scott Berghaus, a senior vice president at the bank, accepted that award.
Mr. Loza currently chairs the National Hispanic Housing Council and the Rural Development Leadership Network. Mr. Loza also serves as a board member for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the National Housing Conference, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Rural Housing Coalition, and the Low Income Investment Fund. Founded in 1971, the Housing Assistance Council is a national nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C. that helps local organizations build affordable homes in rural America by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, research, training, and information services. HAC's programs focus on local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependency, and self-help strategies. HAC is an equal opportunity lender.
Stand Up for Rural America started in 1998. It involves 750 organizations and publishes a free, bi-weekly Network Reporter, circulated to some 1,620 nonprofit rural community developers.
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> Formatted version of HAC's release text above (PDF, 14 KB)
> Housing Assistance Council website
Related Event
17th Annual Rural LISC Seminar - Investment and Philanthropy in Rural America
06/15/2008 - 06/18/2008
Article Type: Press Release