FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2005	Contact: Michele Anapol (202) 466-2121 x226 manapol@nhc.org

NEW YORK HOUSING CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL HOUSING CONFERENCE HONOR WOMEN IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez is Keynote Speaker

Judith Calogero, Commissioner, NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal Receives Public Service Award

New York, NY - The New York Housing Conference (NYHC), together with the National Housing Conference (NHC), held the 32nd Annual Awards Luncheon today honoring Women in Housing Development at the Hilton New York.

These pre-eminent housing organizations recognized the achievements of women who are industry leaders in both the nonprofit and privately financed sectors.  All of the honorees are highly respected by and work closely with New York City’s housing developers, builders, owners, managers, and lending institutions.  They serve the entire housing market spectrum, from low-, moderate- and middle- -income New Yorkers to the city’s most affluent.  

The recipients of this year’s “Women in Housing Development” Award include:  Rosanne Haggerty, president, Common Ground Community HFDC, Inc.; Sydelle M. Knepper, president and CEO, SKA Marin; Carol Lamberg, executive director, Settlement Housing Fund, Inc.; Ronay Menschel, chairman of the Board of Trustees, Phipps Houses; Joanne M. Minieri, executive vice president and COO, Forest City Ratner Companies; Denise Notice-Scott, managing director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York; and Amy Rose, executive vice president, Rose Associates, Inc.

Judith Calogero, commissioner, NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, received the NYHC/NHC Public Service Award at the luncheon.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez.  Representing parts of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, Ms. Velázquez is the Ranking Democratic Member of the House Small Business Committee -- the first Hispanic woman to serve as Chair or Ranking Member of a full committee in the history of the House.  She also serves on the Housing and Community Opportunity subcommittee, and has been very actively involved in supporting affordable housing programs.  She is co-sponsor with Senator Hillary Clinton of the employer-assisted housing bill. 

Honorary Chairs of the Luncheon Committee were Katherine G. Farley, Tishman Speyer Properties; Veronica W. Hackett, The Clarett Group; Louise Sunshine, The Sunshine Group, Ltd.; The Honorable Diana Taylor, New York State Department of Banking; Marilyn Jordan Taylor of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP; Alair A. Townsend, Crain’s New York Business; and Deborah C. Wright, Carver Federal Savings Bank.

Clara Fox, NYHC Co-Chair, said, “Women’s leadership in developing both affordable housing and market-rate housing has improved the quality of life for all New Yorkers for decades, and their accomplishments deserve special recognition.  They have shared, faced and conquered immense obstacles to development regardless of the market they serve, and our city has gained much from their vision and tenacity.” 

Luncheon Chair Robert O. Lehrman of Resheff, Inc., a New York City-based builder, said, “Our NYHC Awards Luncheon has grown to be the largest event and key platform for the housing development cause.  The luncheon provides essential support for NYHC and NHC’s housing policies and programs in New York, Albany and Washington.  These programs are vital to develop and maintain affordable housing for all New Yorkers, including public sector employees, working families and a skilled young workforce so essential to the city’s economic growth, stability and diversity.”

Since 1974, NYHC and NHC have saluted individuals and organizations that have made New York a better place to live and work. Each December approximately 1,400 people gather to honor these distinguished award recipients and mark another year in their dedicated effort to help ensure decent, affordable and safe housing in New York and throughout the nation.

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Founded in 1973, the New York Housing Conference (NYHC) represents the major nonprofit and private affordable housing community. The regional affiliate of the National Housing Conference, the NYHC advances essential low- and moderate-income housing programs locally and has gained enactment of major housing legislation at the federal, state and local levels.

For 75 years, the National Housing Conference (NHC) has been the nation’s premiere public policy and housing advocacy organization. A coalition of affordable housing experts from the public and private sectors, it is an essential source of broad, nonpartisan information concerning national housing policy.

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