And the Finalists Are... We're putting the finishing touches on the August issue of AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE this week, which features the finalists of the magazine's fourth annual Readers' Choice Awards for the best affordable housing developments of 2007-2008.

It was difficult paring down the approximately 135 entries into 32 finalists, but we did it with the help of members of our Editorial Advisory Board as well as other industry leaders.

These Readers' Choice finalists target diverse populations, including families, farmworkers, formerly homeless, and seniors. Pear Tree Place in Yakima, Wash., provides drug- and alcohol-free living for recently sober individuals and their families. Evans House in Seattle serves people who have just been released from state psychiatric hospitals. Dudley Village in Dorchester, Mass., has units set aside for ex-offenders returning to the neighborhood from prison. And Hartford Grandfamily Housing Development in Hartford, Conn., provides housing for grandparents raising their grandchildren.

The developments showcase innovative solutions for creating affordable housing. Fair Oaks Court in Pasadena, Calif., is the first for-sale housing development to tap New Markets Tax Credits for project funding. Three cities contributed to the funding for Gosnold Apartments, a single-room occupancy development in Norfolk, Va. The units at Broadway Crossing in Seattle sit atop a Walgreens.

Look for the August issue in your mailbox or online at the end of July to read these inspiring stories, and then help choose who you think is the most deserving in each category and which development should be the overall winner. Go to www.housingfinance.com from July 21 to Aug. 26 to vote. Voting is open to only AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE subscribers.