Copyright: Orhan Cam
As part of the
NMHC Fall Board Meeting, on September 16 NMHC/NAA members met with senior Obama
Administration officials on the integral role the multifamily industry plays in
the economy. Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant
to the President for Economic Policy, and Seth Wheeler, Senior Advisor to the
National Economic Council and Special Assistant to the President for Economic
Policy, were among the high-profile participants. The group discussed
development, construction and the management challenges that the industry faces
in trying to meet growing rental housing needs.
Specifically, the issues covered were federal, state and local development and
management barriers, including increased construction costs, entitlement and
affordability. Other topics included Section 8 and the Low Income Housing
Tax Credit. With little hope for Congressional action on many of the industry's
key policy asks during the lame duck session, Administration officials asked
for specific federal actionable items to further address the need for more
multifamily housing. NMHC/NAA and were asked to put together a thorough list of
these action items for a follow up meeting.
Additional key Administration meeting participants also included: Michael Stegman,
Counselor to the Secretary for Housing Finance Policy, U.S. Department of
Treasury; Karen Chang, Senior Policy Advisor, National Economic Council; Luke
Tate, Senior Policy Advisor, Domestic Policy Council; Benjamin Metcalf, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Federal
Housing Administration; and Genger Charles, Chief of Staff and Senior Policy
Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Housing, HUD Federal Housing
Commissioner.