WASHINGTON, DC — The National Housing Conference (NHC) is pleased to announce the honorees to be recognized at our Annual Housing Visionary Awards Gala on June 5 at The Anthem in Washington, DC. This year’s recipients are distinguished leaders in housing and community development whose work has helped move our nation toward NHC’s vision of an America where everyone is able to live in a quality, affordable home in a thriving community.
The 2024 Housing Visionary Award honorees are Tia Boatman Patterson, President of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, and the Congressional Leaders of Affordable Housing Tax Policy, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives addressing the shortage of affordable housing in the country. Joseph M. Ventrone, former Vice President of Federal Policy and Industry Relations at the National Association of REALTORS® and a longtime leader in housing policy in the executive and legislative branches and private sector, will also be honored with the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service.
“The Housing Visionary and Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Awards stand as the pinnacle of recognition in the realm of affordable housing and community development, honoring exceptional dedication and impact. Tia Boatman Patterson, the Congressional Leaders of Affordable Housing Tax Policy, and Joe Ventrone exemplify tireless advocates dedicated to transforming communities through accessible housing solutions and legislative action,” said David M. Dworkin, President and CEO of the National Housing Conference.
“Tia Boatman Patterson’s unwavering dedication to affordable housing has uplifted California communities, leaving a lasting impact through her visionary leadership and tireless advocacy. Joe Ventrone’s five-decade commitment to housing issues has been an exemplary journey of service and leadership, influencing policy and driving positive change across diverse sectors from Capitol Hill to federal agencies, leaving an indelible mark on affordable housing initiatives nationwide. The bipartisan group of Congressional Leaders of Affordable Housing Tax Policy recognizes the demand for affordable housing transcends partisan divides. They are actively collaborating across party lines to address the pressing shortage, driving forward legislation aimed at fostering the construction of additional homes and revitalizing neighborhoods.”
Tia Boatman Patterson is President and CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC), dedicated to improving California communities by financing the development and preservation of affordable housing for low-income households. With a rich background in public service, Patterson previously held the role of Associate Director of Housing, Treasury & Commerce in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Management & Budget. Her tenure from 2014 to 2021 as the Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency was marked by notable organizational enhancements and substantial growth in loan production. Additionally, Patterson served as a director on the National Council of State Housing Agencies Board from 2015 to 2021, assuming the position of Board Chair from 2018 to 2020.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the National Housing Conference for the 2024 Housing Visionary Award,” said Tia Boatman Patterson. “Growing up, my grandmother told me it was my responsibility to leave things better than I found it. This simple rule has been my guide to impacting positive change in housing and community development and this honor truly inspires me to continue to leave a lasting, positive impact.”
The Congressional Leaders of Affordable Housing Tax Policy is a bipartisan group of congressional leaders who are working to address the shortage of affordable housing in this country by advancing legislation, such as the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act and the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which will facilitate the construction of more homes and neighborhood revitalization. This year’s honorees include Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), as well as Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), and former Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.).
“I am honored to be a recipient of the ‘2024 Housing Visionary’ award for my efforts to address our nation’s housing affordability crisis. I’d also like to thank my colleagues Senators Blackburn, Cantwell, and Cardin, who are also receiving this award, for their partnerships on legislation that would expand affordable housing options and revitalize communities nationwide. Together, we can make a real difference in ensuring Americans have access to safe, quality, affordable homes,” said Senator Young.
“Housing insecurity affects Maryland and communities in every state. This is unacceptable – everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home and an opportunity to build equity and wealth for their family. That is why I’m proud to be part of a concerted, bipartisan effort in the Senate to make affordable housing a priority in this country. By working together, my colleagues and I have successfully advocated for using the tax code to encourage private investment in affordable housing, from strengthening our nation’s most successful tool to date to advocating for additional affordable housing policies. This award is recognition of our incredible work, and I am honored to join them in receiving this year’s ‘Housing Visionary’ award,” said Senator Cardin.
“Affordable housing is vital for families throughout Illinois and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit continues to be an important tool to drive investment in the affordable rental housing market,” said Rep. LaHood. “As I travel throughout communities in Illinois, I constantly hear about the affordable housing crisis, especially in our rural areas. In Congress, I’ve been proud to lead the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act and work to secure important housing credit provisions in the recent tax package to improve housing options. I want to thank the National Housing Conference (NHC) for honoring me with this award and I look forward to continuing our work to expand affordable housing across the country.”
“I’m honored to receive the National Housing Conference’s Housing Visionary Award for my efforts to expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Affordable housing is more than just a policy issue to me. It’s a fundamental foundation that every American family deserves. I look forward to continuing to champion these policies that will address our nation’s affordable housing crisis and help ensure every American has a safe and secure place to call home.”
With nearly 50 years of expertise in housing issues, Joe Ventrone’s career spans roles in the private sector, at top federal agencies, and on Capitol Hill under Democratic and Republican administrations. As the former Vice President of Federal Policy and Industry Relations at the National Association of REALTORS®, Ventrone led the Federal Policy and Industry Relations Team to develop and analyze policy on housing, real estate finance, business and technology, environment, and commercial real estate. Before joining NAR in 2003, he served as Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Housing Finance Board and was a key member of the Bush/Cheney Transition Team at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Congress, Ventrone played a pivotal role in significant federal housing, mortgage finance, and urban affairs legislation, including the American Home Ownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000, The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.
“For over 50 years, whether working on Capitol Hill, at federal agencies, or in the private sector, my philosophy has always been to connect the dots in a bipartisan fashion through transparency and a strong spirit of collaboration, successfully bringing folks to the middle time and again,” said Joe Ventrone. “Receiving this award is a tremendous honor and reaffirms my commitment that working together is the only way we can address today’s housing issues.”
The Housing Visionary Awards Gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. on June 5 at The Anthem (901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024). Contact NHC’s Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Mitchell, at amitchell@nhc.org for tickets or visit www.nhc.org/event/gala/ for additional information.
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About NHC: The National Housing Conference (NHC) is a diverse continuum of affordable housing stakeholders that convene and collaborate through dialogue, advocacy, research, and education, to develop equitable solutions that serve our common interest – an America where everyone is able to live in a quality, affordable home in a thriving community. Politically diverse and nonpartisan, NHC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.