Outstanding Programs and Initiatives Award - Organization

This award honours an organization that has implemented an innovative program or initiative that supports the needs of its community.

 

Eligibility criteria

  • Nominees have implemented a program, or initiative that meets the needs of its community in innovative ways within the past three years.
  • Nominated programs, and initiatives are related to housing, community services, and/or supports.
  • Nominees can demonstrate measurable positive outcomes as a result of their program, or initiative.
  • Nominees have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
  • Note this category is not for capital projects.

Nomination and Selection Process

  • Nominations must come from CHRA members in good standing, either individuals or organizations.
  • A nomination consists of a completed nomination form and supporting documents including letters of support and media coverage.
  • The CHRA Awards Committee selects and recommends award recipients to the CHRA Board of Directors for final decision. The Awards Committee may add to the list of nominees.
  • A non-selected nomination may be re-submitted in a subsequent year.
  • Awards are presented at the National Congress on Housing and Homelessness.
  • For selected recipients, CHRA will request archival photos, videos, etc. for compiling a short promotional video for use in the awards presentation.

Award Guidelines

The nomination and presentation of CHRA awards will be guided by the following terms:

  1. Nominations must come from CHRA members in good standing, either individuals or organizations.
  2. CHRA is not obliged to present each award annually if insufficient nominations are received or those received do not adequately meet the award criteria. Upon internal review, nominees may be transferred into a different, more appropriate award category.
  3. A nomination consists of a completed nomination form and supporting documents including letters of support and media coverage.
  4. The Awards Committee may extend the deadline by one or two weeks to promote further submissions. CHRA members currently sitting as an elected officer of the Board of Directors or currently participating in the Awards Committee are not eligible for receipt of a CHRA award although they may act as nominator or supporter.
  5. Board members and Awards Committee members will abstain from voting on any awards where they were the nominator, wrote a letter of support or have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest would occur if the Board member works at the same organization as a nominee, works with a nominee, or could occur for any other reason determined by the Board member.
  6. A non-selected nomination may be re-submitted in a subsequent year by the nominator, revising the submission as needed.
  7. The CHRA Awards Committee selects and recommends award recipients to the CHRA Board of Directors for final decision. The Awards Committee selects the CHRA award winners through a consensus process, aided by an evaluation matrix.
  8. Award recipients will be presented with their award by the CHRA President or designate during the CHRA National Congress on Housing and Homelessness.
  9. If an award recipient is unable to attend the CHRA Congress, an alternate presentation opportunity will be considered. Otherwise their award will be mailed to them.