OCC and Interagency Council on Homelessness Host Webinar on Bank Financing of Permanent Supportive Housing

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the U. S. Interagency Council on Homelessness will host a free live webinar from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. EST on April 25, 2012.

The webinar will draw upon the OCC's recent newsletter entitled "Ending Homelessness: Funding Permanent Supportive Housing" (https://www.occ.gov/publications/publications-by-type/other-publications-reports/cdi-newsletter/feb-2012/homeless-ezine-table-of-contents.html) and will focus on bank financing for the development of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. Bankers will learn from experts how to finance permanent supportive housing by investing in low-income housing tax credits and pre-development loan pools. Community Reinvestment Act consideration and risk mitigation for this type of housing investment will also be discussed.

"This webinar will illustrate how banks can and are helping to end chronic homelessness by financing permanent supportive affordable housing for the homeless," said Acting Comptroller of the Currency John Walsh. "The speakers will focus on structures commonly used by banks to finance supportive housing facilities and how these activities may be eligible for positive Community Reinvestment Act consideration."

"Local communities are able to make progress on ending chronic homelessness when banks are investors in permanent supportive housing," said U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Barbara Poppe. "We look forward to additional public-private collaboration in the years ahead to finish the job of ending chronic homelessness by 2015 across the nation."

During the webinar, online and phone participants will hear presentations from and have an opportunity to pose questions to panelists:

• Barry Wides, Deputy Comptroller for Community Affairs, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;
• Barbara Poppe, Executive Director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness;
• Deborah De Santis, President and CEO, Corporation for Supportive Housing;
• Joseph Molnar, Managing Director, Huntington National Bank Community Development Corporation.

The webinar provides an opportunity for bankers and other interested parties to interact with OCC, government, and industry experts. Get more information and register online (https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/617784006).