For Immediate Release: July 7, 2008
For More Information: Leslie Strauss, Housing Assistance Council, 202-842-8600 ext. 141, leslie@ruralhome.org
or Debby Ross, Stand Up for Rural America, 202-739-9276, dross@lisc.org

Stand Up for Rural America Honors HAC’s Moises Loza

“To Moises Loza,” reads the curved glass plaque, “with tremendous thanks for a life devoted to making rural America work.”

The plaque was awarded earlier this month to Moises Loza, Executive Director of the Housing Assistance Council, by Stand Up for Rural America, a national coalition dedicated to helping rural community developers gain the attention, resources and policy support their work deserves. Loza has worked for almost four decades to improve rural housing, most notably as HAC’s executive director since 1989. HAC works to improve housing conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places in the United States.

“Stand Up for Rural America wanted to recognize Moises. He is an inspirational leader who has stayed the course and made HAC the most important national organization supporting better rural housing,” explained Sandra Rosenblith, Senior Vice President of Rural LISC, which staffs the Stand Up campaign.

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” said Mr. Loza. “I accept it on behalf of the people at local organizations around the country, who do the real work of improving rural homes and communities.”

Mr. Loza expressed his appreciation for the work of the Stand Up coalition, particularly the visibility it has brought to rural community development issues.

Mr. Loza’s award was one of two presented at the fifth national Stand Up for Rural America Day. The other recipient was Bank of America, recognized for its commitment and continuing investments in making rural America work. Stephen B. Fitzgerald and Scott Berghaus, senior vice presidents at the bank, accepted the award.

Mr. Loza currently chairs the National Hispanic Housing Council and the Rural Development Leadership Network. Mr. Loza also serves as a board member for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the National Housing Conference, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Rural Housing Coalition, and the Low Income Investment Fund.

Founded in 1971, the Housing Assistance Council is a national nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C. that helps local organizations build affordable homes in rural America by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, research, training, and information services. HAC’s programs focus on local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependency, and self-help strategies. HAC is an equal opportunity lender.

Stand Up for Rural America started in 1998. It involves 750 organizations and publishes a free, bi-weekly Network Reporter, circulated to some 1,620 nonprofit rural community developers.

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