Affordable Housing Conference Breaks Record

A record number of government officials and housing professionals from the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors converged on the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City to exchange information and discuss critical issues at the 8th annual New York State Affordable Housing Conference, "Momentum 2007". Bernie Carr, Executive Director of New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) announced that the event had drawn an unprecedented number of participants - in excess of 1,100 attendees. He welcomed everyone to the morning plenary session which boasted the top echelon of New York State and City government housing leaders.

Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen, introduced earlier by NYSAFAH President Robert Ezrapour, underscored the importance of the conference in light of several urgent issues coming to the fore in recent months. She then introduced what many thought to be a major highlight of the morning session: a video retrospective on the impact of the low-income housing tax credit (LIHC) over the past twenty years. Afterward, she discussed the State's ongoing efforts to revisit New York's Qualified Allocation Plan in order to make the program even more productive.

During the panel discussion moderated by Mr. Carr, a lively exchange ensued on a variety of topics ranging from tax-exempt bonding, the 80/20 program, and green building initiatives. HFA/SONYMA President Priscilla Almodovar discussed what she characterized as a re-commitment of her agency to its original mission and its ongoing efforts to preserve the State's existing affordable housing portfolio. Both HDC President Emily Youssouf and HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan emphatically represented the New York City perspective.

The variety of subjects covered in the conference workshops was impressive and duly reflected the level of sophistication of the attendees. DHCR was well represented with staff from most of its units participating in workshops, panel discussions and at its display booth. The theme of the display echoed that of the video and included a slide-show of NYSAFAH member tax credit projects. When all was said and done, another successful conference was in the books and planning for the upstate NYSAFAH conference in the fall will now begin in earnest.