Catapult’s fearless executive director, Tammy Thompson, was honored by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) at their Housing Forum conference on May 2. She was awarded their prestigious Housing Pioneer Award which recognizes distinguished housing leadership. Bonnie Zehler, retired executive director of Luminest Community Development, was also honored as a Housing Pioneer.
“Tammy is well known in western Pennsylvania for using her voice and platforms to raise awareness about poverty and economic injustice — and to create solutions,” said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann when she gave Tammy the award.
PHFA also presented its inaugural Housing Legacy Award, which recognizes people and organizations for housing efforts that have an ongoing powerful impact in their communities. This year’s winners were Lawrence Swanson, executive director of ACTION-Housing and Pittsburgh Project HOME, Philadelphia, founded by Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson-McConnon.
“These three people and the organization honored this year are true housing champions,” said Wiessmann. “Their tireless efforts to expand affordable housing options in Pennsylvania are critical in meeting the current demand for quality, stable housing and should inspire us all to do even more. They are role models of service we all should aspire to emulate.”
Catapult is proud to partner with PHFA on our Revitalizing Neighborhods & Increasing Homeownership pilot that is helping make home buying a reality for families across Allegheny County by reducing purchasing barriers and coaching potential homebuyers.
We were excited to join the organization in celebrating 51 years of housing successes at this year’s Housing Forum conference and look forward to continuing our work together to advance housing justice in the years to come.
