On May 28, 2026 the SLO County Housing Trust Fund proudly hosted the inaugural Strong Foundation Awards, an evening dedicated to recognizing the individuals whose leadership, vision, and commitment have helped strengthen communities and increase the supply of affordable housing throughout San Luis Obispo County.
This year, we were honored to recognize two extraordinary leaders whose contributions have left a lasting impact on our region.
🏆 Housing Champion Award - Michael Burke
Michael Burke, Director of Construction & Development for the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO), received the inaugural Housing Champion Award in recognition of nearly two decades of service advancing affordable housing across San Luis Obispo County.
Throughout his career, Michael has helped oversee the development of hundreds of affordable homes serving seniors, people with disabilities, extremely low-income households, and individuals exiting homelessness. His leadership has helped deliver high-quality housing while strengthening our region's capacity to address housing needs for generations to come.
🏆 Lifetime Achievement Award - Jerry Rioux
The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jerry Rioux, retired founding CEO of the SLO County Housing Trust Fund.
Jerry's vision and leadership helped establish the Housing Trust Fund and shape the organization's long-term mission, partnerships, and impact. Through decades of advocacy and collaboration, he helped build a trusted organization dedicated to increasing affordable housing opportunities throughout San Luis Obispo County. Although Jerry was unable to attend, Board Chair Pat Arnold accepted the award on his behalf.
Both recipients received Certificates of Recognition from the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, Assemblymember Dawn Addis, and State Senator John Laird in acknowledgment of their contributions to affordable housing and community development.
The Strong Foundation Awards were created to celebrate the leadership, partnership, and commitment required to address one of the most important challenges facing our region. We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this inaugural event and helped make the evening a meaningful celebration of the people working every day to strengthen our communities.
Together, we continue advancing our mission to increase the supply of affordable housing in SLO County.
Photos By Brooke Lee Photography
