The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority has received an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for project design of The Cottages at Green Lake. It was one of only 16 housing and community development organizations to receive an award. It was selected from an initial pool of 178 Awards of Merit recipients.

The Cottages at Green Lake, 930 W. Second St., are located on the Treatment and Recovery Campus of Douglas County. They provide permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious, persistent mental illness. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing and supportive services designed to help vulnerable individuals and families use stable housing as a platform for health and recovery.

There are 10 separate cottages that have been specifically designed to maximize functional abilities and minimize barriers through good design and appropriate supports. The first tenant moved into The Cottages in January 2021, and they are currently all occupied.

According to NAHRO, the Award of Excellence highlights how members make a difference in their community and in the lives of the people they serve. “We commend your creativity and dedication, which now will serve as an inspiration to others,” the award letter said.

Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority Executive Director Shannon Oury accepted the award in March during NAHRO’s conference in Washington, D.C. "The Housing Authority’s work in the community is to transform lives through accessible, affordable housing opportunities, particularly for members of our community that face significant barriers to housing," Oury said. "Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority is proud to have been a part of the partnership that planned and designed this project and honored to receive this award."

The project was a collaboration among the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, Douglas County and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. Treanor HL was the architect for The Cottages.