Cambridge's Fair Housing Committee has selected Harvard University as the winner of its "Innovation in Fair Housing Award" for recognition of Harvard's response to the end of rent control in which it made permanent affordable housing available to Cambridge residents.

The award was presented April 29 during a reception at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School auditorium.

Harvard received the award for its response to the end of rent control, in which the University made 25 percent of its formerly rent-controlled property available for affordable housing through below-market sales and lifelong lease protection to current low-income tenants who continue to qualify for protection.

"Harvard has always strived to be a responsible landlord and a constructive member of the Cambridge community. Today, the University is proud of its achievements in this regard," said Kathy Spiegelman, associate vice president, Planning and Real Estate. "Providing buildings as permanent affordable housing and ensuring stability for our own tenants was no easy task. Only through the hard work and cooperation of city officials, neighbors, affordable housing advocates, and our own internal constituents was this accomplished. This success clearly demonstrates the benefit of working together to achieve common goals."

Harvard University owned approximately 5 percent of the city's previously rent-controlled units. It negotiated the sale of 100 apartment units to the city at one-third market value and currently provides lease protection to 74 low-income tenants in 67 apartments.