The Norwood Housing Authority was established in 1948 to provide and maintain affordable housing for low and moderate income persons and families. The Norwood Housing Authority owns and manages five low income housing developments in Norwood. Four of the developments were built to house elderly and handicapped persons. In total, there are 403 one bedroom apartments in these developments. The NHA has one family development, Washington Heights, which consists of 75 apartments of two and three bedroom units. The Norwood Housing Authority also administers over 340 Federal Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. The HCV program is operated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program offers rent subsidies to persons of low income, which allows them to acquire apartments in private developments or houses. Program participant pays 30% of their adjusted income and the NHA pays the difference between the amount and the monthly rent. In 2010, Norwood Housing Authority was awarded the Outstanding Agency Award by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials for the rehabilition on Jefferson Drive at the Washington Heights site and for the Greenhouse Project at the Kevin Maguire Housing site.