Multifamily affordable housing developers and managers are invited to enter the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA)’s 2026 Affordable Housing Vanguard Award competition, which recognizes the best in newly developed or rehabilitated affordable multifamily housing communities. Showcase your innovative solutions and get the recognition you deserve. The deadline for nominating a property for one of NAHMA’s 2026 Affordable Housing Vanguard Awards is June 5; download the application today. The application can be downloaded from the Vanguard Awards webpage.
The Vanguard Award recognizes new, quality multifamily affordable housing development and major rehabilitation of existing properties. The award pays tribute to developers of high-quality, affordable housing; demonstrates that exceptional new affordable housing is available across the country; reflects the creativity and innovation that must be present to create superior properties given the financing and other development challenges; highlights results of private-public partnerships required to develop today’s affordable housing; and shares ideas for unique design and financing mechanisms with industry practitioners to further stimulate creative development in the affordable multifamily industry.
The Vanguard Award categories are:
- New Construction, two subcategories: more than 100 units and under 100 units
- Major Rehabilitation of an Existing Rental Housing Community
- Major Rehabilitation of a Nonhousing Structure into Affordable Rental Housing
- Major Rehabilitation of a Historic Structure into Affordable Rental Housing
Affordable multifamily housing communities less than 3 years old―as of June 5, 2026―may apply based on the date of completing new construction or major rehab completion. Please note: A management company can submit one entry for each of the four categories; however, each entry must be a different property.
Starting in 2026, communities that receive an award from any NAHMA awards program must wait two years before applying for or being nominated for another NAHMA award, regardless of the awards program.
Applications and information about entry fees, judging criteria, the benefits of winning an award, and more are on NAHMA’s website at nahma.org. Click on the Vanguard Award Overview webpage.
The Affordable Housing Vanguard Awards winners will be recognized at the 2026 NAHMA November meeting awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.