AH908 The Future of Rental Housing: Policy to Preserve Choices for American Families

Policy makers and practitioners have long known that a National housing policy that promotes and preserves the widest range of choices for individuals requires a balanced approach that supports preserving existing affordable multifamily rental homes and creating new ones. Legislative initiatives and regulatory reform that facilitate the construction, preservation and greening of affordable rental homes have a measurable impact on American communities in urban, suburban and rural areas. The current larger housing crisis will have a long-term impact on the rental housing market. NeighborWorks has convened this symposium to hear from the practitioners and policymakers who will effect long-term policy and practices.

NeighborWorks America organizations own and operate over 65,000 rental housing units across the country. We are deeply invested in assuring that these units remain assets to their communities and to long-term growth in the number and quality of affordable rental homes.

Please join us in Washington, DC, on December 10^th to hear from national policy leaders and practitioners in the area of multifamily housing. We will explore new approaches to preserving and developing these important assets and the benefits that these approaches can provide. The symposium will provide participants opportunities to discuss and assess the state of a wide range of current and proposed policies at the state, local and federal levels.

Break-out sessions will allow for more in-depth examination and discussion of implementation strategies regarding policy solutions for current multifamily issues including:

Greening Rental Housing

Discuss methods and strategies for rehabilitating and developing multifamily units to manage costs and improve the environmental conditions of residents and communities.

Tax Policy

Examine the tax-related strategies to encourage investment in construction and preservation of rental homes. Tax incentives can also support the greening of new and existing apartments with energy conservation measures and renewable energy sources.

Smart Growth

The need for affordable multifamily housing near public transportation corridors and close to major employment centers is clear. Discuss strategies to increase the incentives to develop rental housing and keep existing units affordable.

Private Sector Investment

Learn about strategies to encourage investment by financial institutions as they implement their regulatory goals and meet the growing need for affordable rental housing.

Regulatory Reform for Preservation

How can federal regulations level the playing field so that nonprofit and for-profit owners of subsidized housing can access the same cash flows and reserves to maintain high quality affordable apartments?

REO Rental Housing

Explore ways to return REO properties to the marketplace as affordable rental homes.