Here’s what the Deputy Secretary said at NAA’s annual Advocate conference.
On March 11, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman addressed the National Apartment Association (NAA) Board of Director’s meeting at NAA’s annual Advocate conference, held in Washington, D.C. Her remarks focused on fostering an open dialogue between HUD and the rental housing industry and looked at ways to improve the agency’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV).
Todman, HUD’s 12th Deputy Secretary, spent considerable time speaking about HUD’s mission and shared her industry experience – namely her time serving as the CEO of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the Executive Director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA). The Deputy Secretary emphasized that she can understand how public policy changes influence property management and operations because of her extensive industry experience. “I hope you’ll see my presence here today as an invitation to keep the dialogue going,” said Todman as she opened the conversation.
In her remarks, Todman opened the floor to the audience, encouraging them to ask “tough questions.” Many of the questions focused on ways to reform the HCV Program and improve relations with the thousands of public housing authorities that administer HUD’s programs. These points parallel the recent introduction of bipartisan and bicameral legislation to improve the HCV program and incentivize more housing provider participation in HCV, which NAA proudly supports. Todman made it clear that “HUD has a vested interest in making sure its vouchers are used” and that the Section 8 program “is not successful without you all [housing providers].”
Todman’s conversation to industry advocates at the conference reflects NAA’s growing commitment to robust federal regulatory advocacy, a part of the association’s work to ensure the rental housing industry’s voice is heard and valued at all levels and all branches of government. Todman received a standing ovation, hopefully marking the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the Deputy Secretary and the nation’s housing providers.