Mayor Ruthanne Fuller has made affordable housing one of the pillars of her tenure in City Hall. And on Tuesday, she was recognized for that with an award.

The Fair Housing Committee—which advises City Hall on matters relating to fair housing and housing discrimination—honored Fuller with the Sheila Mondshein Award, given annually to a person or organization that has shown outstanding leadership in promoting fair housing in Newton.

Fair Housing Committee chair Esther Schlorholtz noted that among Fuller’s signature achievements were the creation of 2,000 housing units built, permitted or underway, of which 600 are permanently affordable units. She highlighted the West Newton Armory as an example of the creation of 43 affordable apartments.

Also offering remarks on the Mayor’s housing record were Amy Schectman, CEO of 2Life Communities, former City Council President Brooke Lipsitt, and the 2024 fair housing awardee, Deb Crossley, a former member of the City Council.

“I didn’t do this, actually, we did this,” Fuller said during her acceptance speech. “And I would say the secret sauce is always people and surrounding yourself with fellow travelers.”

She singled out Newton’s Director of Planning and Development, Barney Heath, thanking him for his key role.

The award is named in memory of Sheila Mondshein, founding chair of the Newton Fair Housing Committee, who served on the committee for more than 10 years.