The search for the nation’s most outstanding affordable multifamily housing communities is officially underway. NAHMA has opened entries for the 2026 Communities of Quality (COQ) Awards—one of the industry’s most prestigious distinctions—which honors excellence in property management, resident services, and community impact. The submission deadline is Nov. 5. Download the COQ Awards application today.
“Distinctive affordable multifamily housing is the hallmark of excellence in property management. Each year, NAHMA’s COQ Awards recognize the best in the industry,” said Kris Cook, CAE, CEO of NAHMA.
The prestigious COQ Awards recognize the achievements of affordable multifamily housing providers who have made an unprecedented contribution to the affordable housing industry by developing and maintaining outstanding properties that are safe and vibrant places to live.
The 2026 COQ Awards will be presented in the following categories:
- Exemplary Family Development
- Exemplary Development for the Elderly
- Exemplary Development for Residents with Special Needs
- Exemplary Development for Single Room Occupancy Housing
- Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property
A management company can submit one entry for each category, but each entry must be for a different property. Properties that previously entered the COQ awards competition but did not win are encouraged to reapply; however, previous COQ Award winners are not eligible to reenter. Additionally, any community that receives a NAHMA award—regardless of the program—must wait two years before applying for or being nominated for another NAHMA award.
To be eligible for the COQ Awards, a property must first earn a minimum score of 325 points on the NAHMA COQ National Recognition application. The deadline to submit COQ National Recognition applications to a local AHMA for consideration is Sept. 3.
Properties that previously received fewer than 325 points on their COQ National Recognition application may update and resubmit their materials if improvements have been made. The COQ Awards application brochure includes complete instructions for updating applications and is available for download on NAHMA’s website.
Award winners will be notified in early January 2027 and will receive their awards at a special ceremony during the NAHMA 2027 March meeting in Washington, D.C.
The 2026 COQ Awards program is generously jointly sponsored by Navigate Affordable Housing Partners, a nonprofit engaged in affordable housing preservation, community revitalization, and consulting services centered around the affordable housing industry; and Yardi, which develops and supports industry-leading compliance, accounting and property management software for every type and size of affordable housing provider.
For complete eligibility requirements and to download the COQ Awards application, visit www.nahma.org/communities-of-quality/coq-awards-program/.
Additionally, the revised NAHMA COQ National Recognition Program application allows broader participation, including from non-HUD properties. An overview is available under the Communities of Quality tab at www.nahma.org.
Local AHMAs will also celebrate regional COQ program participants. Check with your local AHMA for program details. A directory of AHMAs is available at www.nahma.org/about-nahma/ahma-directory/.
For questions or additional information, contact Paulette Washington at 703-683-8630, ext. 6 or pwashington@nahma.org.
Properties that achieve national COQ recognition are encouraged to showcase their status through NAHMA’s Digital Smart Badges, which can be displayed on property websites. These clickable badges instantly verify a property’s COQ credentials for site visitors. More information about the Digital Smart Badges program is available on the National Communities of Quality Program webpage at nahma.org.