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CUMBERLAND’S LISA AUDETTE RECEIVES TOP HONOR
FROM MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC HOUSING PROFESSIONALS
Lisa M. Audette of Cumberland, Executive Director of the Franklin (MA) Housing Authority (FHA), has been named 2014 “Member of the Year” by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (MassNAHRO).
The award, presented at MassNAHRO’s Annual Conference in Hyannis, is a special recognition of Ms. Audette’s contributions to public housing by her fellow professionals across Massachusetts. The Member of the Year Award is presented “for exceptional leadership, commitment and service to Massachusetts NAHRO.” MassNAHRO represents more than 240 local housing authorities in Massachusetts.
Ms. Audette, Executive Director of the Franklin Housing Authority since 1995, has made significant contributions to the mission of MassNAHRO as a member of the Board of Directors, as Treasurer, and as a member of several association committees. She also serves as President of the Southeastern Massachusetts Executive Director Association.
A lifelong resident of Cumberland, Ms. Audette started her public housing career in 1992 as Assistant to the Executive Director of the Cumberland Housing Authority. Since she became Executive Director of the Franklin Housing Authority, the authority has received five “Outstanding Agency Awards” from MassNAHRO. These awards cited the development of affordable housing through inter-agency cooperation, development of a “Helping Hands Program” that provides financial assistance to low-income residents in exchange for community service, a collaboration with Tri County High School that enabled students to build a new maintenance garage for FHA, securing a grant from the Town of Franklin for a boiler replacement project, and the purchase and transformation of a foreclosed property into affordable rental units for local working families.
FHA owns 206 units of public housing, providing safe and affordable housing for seniors, disabled persons and families. The authority is currently building a new eight-unit development for Department of Developmental Service clients due to open next year, and it has acquired three additional properties housing low-income families through advanced programming.
“MassNAHRO is pleased to present this award to Lisa in recognition of her many contributions to public housing,” said Thomas J. Connelly, Jr., Executive Director of MassNAHRO. “We congratulate Lisa for all the good work she does for our association and for the residents of the Franklin Housing Authority. Her leadership, commitment and service are truly exceptional.”
“I am very honored to be recognized by my colleagues from all across Massachusetts,” said Ms. Audette. “Public housing professionals work hard every day to provide safe and decent affordable housing to the residents of our communities. I can think of no greater honor than to receive this award from the member agencies of MassNAHRO.