FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2008	Contact: Laura Woods (202) 466-2121 x240 lwoods@nhc.org

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG WILL BE SPECIAL GUEST AND DELIVER REMARKS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE NYHC AND NHC 35TH ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON IN DECEMBER

Event Theme: “Affordable Housing, Now More Than Ever!”

New York, NY (November 24, 2008) – On December 11, 2008 at The New York Marriott Marquis, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will be the special guest and will deliver remarks on the importance of affordable housing before approximately 1,200 of the nation’s most influential figures in real estate, banking and community development at the New York Housing Conference (NYHC) and National Housing Conference (NHC) 35th Annual Awards Luncheon. The event will honor those who continue to create and preserve affordable housing in New York and nationwide.

The recipients of this year’s awards are:

• Atlantic Development Group, Housing Developer Award (accepted by Peter Fine, principal);

• The New York City Housing Authority, Special Recognition Award (accepted by Tino Hernandez, chairman, and Douglas Apple, general manager); and

• Shaun Donovan, commissioner, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Public Service Award.

The Corporate Sponsor for this year’s event is The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, which will be recognized for its strong leadership in community development and affordable housing. Gerald L. Hassell, president, will deliver opening remarks.

All of the Luncheon’s honorees are highly-respected and noted for their work among not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers, builders, owners, managers, professionals, government officials, lending institutions and social service organizations. The Luncheon will focus on new breakthroughs in New York’s affordable housing arena, and will recognize leaders involved in the effort to create housing for New York’s low-, moderate-, and middle-income families.

“This year’s Luncheon has taken on a new significance with the precipitous downturn in the nation’s economy. We have needed more affordable housing in New York City for decades. The increased foreclosure rate and the credit crisis are alarming and high quality affordable housing is part of the solution. It is time to consider new, transparent approaches to creating and preserving affordable housing,” said John Kelly, New York Housing Conference co-chair and partner with Nixon Peabody, LLP; and Carol Lamberg, New York Housing Conference co-chair and executive director of Settlement Housing Fund.

Luncheon Committee Chair Robert O. Lehrman of Lodestone Banking Consultancy, Inc. said, “Celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year, the Luncheon continues to serve as a key platform for advancing the affordable housing cause. This event has highlighted the critical links between sound housing and the need for public safety, good schools, people's health and jobs.”

“The affordable housing landscape has changed dramatically in the past year with a foreclosure crisis that is negatively impacting the future of America’s families. The availability of stable, affordable housing is unquestionably linked to the health and well-being of families and their children. As a result, ‘now, more than ever’ we must be focused on meeting housing needs both in New York and nationwide,” said NHC President and CEO Conrad Egan.

The December 11, 2008 Luncheon will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m., with lunch served at 12:15 p.m. For more details, including ticketing information, please click Here, or contact Thea Beckering of NHC at (202) 466-2121, ext. 221, or tbeckering@nhc.org.


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 more than 75 years, the nonprofit National Housing Conference (NHC) has been the United Voice for Housing. A membership drawn from every industry segment forms the foundation for NHC’s broad, nonpartisan advocacy for national policies and legislation that promote suitable housing in a safe, decent environment. To learn more, please go to www.nhc.org.

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