2023 Affordable Housing Symposium Highlights

On May 17 and 18, 2023, the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC) and Housing Advisory Group (HAG) co-hosted the 2023 Affordable Housing Symposium on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 18 in Washington, DC. Attendees heard remarks from members of Congress, including House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Todd Young (R-IN), Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Daniel Hornung, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.

Attendees also heard updates from congressional staff representing members on key House and Senate committees, and insights from industry leaders and advocates about the latest issues impacting the Low-Income Housing Credit (Housing Credit). After the symposium, all participants were invited to attend a networking reception with key members of Congress and staff. The following day, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, the AHTCC and HAG arranged congressional meetings for over 60 participants with over 40 congressional offices as part of the Symposium, to build support for the newly reintroduced Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA) of 2023.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Washington, DC last week for the Symposium, participated in congressional meetings and contributed to our advocacy efforts. See below for highlights from the May 17 event and May 18 congressional meetings, event photos, and AHCIA resources.

2023 Affordable Housing Symposium
May 17, 2023 | Washington, DC

Remarks from Members of Congress

: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO)

: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR)

: Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

: Senator Todd Young (R-IN)

: Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA)

: Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL)

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and AHCIA of 2023 lead sponsors Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Todd Young (R-IN), and Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) addressed the 2023 Affordable Housing Symposium.

Remarks from Daniel Hornung, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy

Daniel Hornung, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, provided remarks at the 2023 Affordable Housing Symposium reaffirming the Biden Administration’s commitment to addressing the affordable housing crisis and discussed progress on the Administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan.

Remarks from AHTCC and HAG Leadership

: AHTCC CEO Emily Cadik

: AHTCC Board President and Red Stone Equity Partners President Ryan Sfreddo

: HAG Executive Director David Gasson

AHTCC and HAG leadership welcomed attendees to the 2023 Affordable Housing Symposium.

Educational Panels

A discussion with key congressional staff was moderated by Emily Cadik, AHTCC CEO, and David Gasson, HAG Executive Director, and included Jessica Helmers, Office of Sen. Todd Young (R-IN); John Draxler, Office of Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA); Kathryn Chakmak, Office of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO); Alice Lin, Office of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR); Greg Warren, Office of Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL); and Victoria Honard, Office of Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA).

Barbara Pate, Housing Advisory Group/Davis & Harman LLP; Melissa Francis, Venn Strategies; David Gasson, Housing Advisory Group; and Emily Cadik, AHTCC, discussed strategy during the Policy and Advocacy Update.

The Developer Hot Topics panel was moderated by Debra Guerrero, NRP Group, and panelists included Thom Amdur, Senior Vice President, Lincoln Avenue Capital; Kelsey Brewer, Jamboree Housing Corporation; Alice Carr, April Housing; Bart Mitchell, The Community Builders; and Kevin Kroll, Wendover Housing Partners.

The Housing Credit Equity Market Update was moderated by Ryan Sfreddo, Red Stone Equity Partners and AHTCC Board President, and panelists included Nancy Amstadt, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets; Dudley Benoit, Alliant Capital; Tony Bertoldi, CREA; Scott Hoekman, Enterprise Housing Credit Investments; and Doug Lascody, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance.

The Issues Impacting Housing Credit Investment panel was moderated by Beth Mullen, CohnReznick, and panelists included Iris Bashein, Bank of America; Mark McCann, JPMorgan Capital Corporation; Tony Applegate, Nationwide Insurance; Ryan Ammann, Truist Community Capital, and Michael Novogradac, Novogradac & Company LLP.

Congressional Reception

After the general meeting, event attendees were invited to a Congressional Reception to network with members of Congress and staff, during which 5 members of Congress and 16 congressional staff attended.

: AHTCC Board Members Tony Bertoldi, CREA (left) and Jack Casey, Meridian Investments (right) pictured with Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) (center)

: Bob Moss, HAG Chairman (left) and Nancy Amstadt, RBC Capital Markets (right) pictured with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (center)

: From left to right: Keitt King, Eric Rosen, Ryan Ammann, and Nora Vlahoyiannis, Truist Community Capital, pictured with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) (center)

: Melissa Grover, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (left) pictured with Kennedy O’Dell, Office of Sen. Bob Casey (center) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) (right)

Congressional Meetings
May 18, 2023 | Washington, DC

: AHTCC Board Members Scott Hoekman, Enterprise and Jack Casey, Meridian Investments; AHTCC Board President Ryan Sfreddo; and AHTCC CEO Emily Cadik met with Rep. David Trone (D-MD-6).

: Willie Biddings and Alan Cohen, Holland & Knight; Megan John, PNC Bank; Russell Phillips, CohnReznick; and Kevin Dowling, Venn Strategies advocated on the New Jersey/New York Team.

: Shaq Thomas and Julie Sharp, Merchants Capital; and Jared Houser and Phil Stoffregen, Pedcor Companies joined the Indiana Team for congressional meetings.

As part of the 2023 Affordable Housing Symposium, the AHTCC and HAG arranged congressional meetings for over 60 participants with over 40 congressional offices on Thursday, May 18. Thank you to everyone who participated in congressional meetings and contributed to our advocacy efforts.