WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2012 — Experts will discuss tax-credit equity, public housing, and ethics and innovations in the housing and community-development field during the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law’s 21^st Annual Conference May 23 – 25 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Helen Kanovsky, general counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will provide opening remarks on Thursday, May 24, from 8:30 – 8:45 a.m.

Program highlights include:

“Community Economic Development 101” – Panelists will discuss the history of community economic development, identify its key laws and strategies, and share ideas for earning a living while doing legal work to benefit communities and the people who live and work in them.
May 24, 10 – 11:15 a.m.

“Top Tax Opinion Issues in Credit Transaction” – Experts will discuss a variety of tax issues, including loan modifications, building and land valuations, rural-development subsidies and development-fee contributions, during this panel.
May 24, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

“Solutions for Sustainable Communities” – Speakers will explore new federal initiatives to align energy efficiency, smart site location and healthy housing. They also will share examples of co-housing and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development as models to advance sustainability in affordable housing.
May 24, 3:45 – 5 p.m.

“Heard from HUD” – This panel of the top legal advisers in HUD’s Office of General Counsel will discuss the latest legal developments affecting a variety of HUD programs, including FHA Multifamily, Section 8, Public Housing, Community Development, and Fair Housing.
May 24, 3:45 – 5 p.m.

“Administrative Law – Government Agency Rulemaking” – Panelists will explore the procedures, pitfalls and complexities of rulemaking as they relate to a successful affordable housing practice.
May 25, 9:45 – 11 a.m.

“Energy, Environmental Justice & Community Development” – Growth in energy-related development is surging in many parts of the country. Experts will discuss the challenges and benefits of this development and its impact on environmental justice and community-development activities.
May 25, 9:45 – 11 a.m.

“Fair Housing – Testing Programs” – In the past few decades, there have been many advances in fair-housing testing, including changes in protected classes, testing procedures and differences in jurisdictional requirements. Panelists will discuss ways that developers and others should build fair-housing principles into their business practices to advance the cause of integrated, opportunity-based neighborhoods.
May 25, 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

The full brochure can be viewed here.

For media credentialing, please contact Phil Stamper at phillip.stamper@americanbar.org. There is no charge for media to attend this event.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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