Multifamily Update from DAS Ben Metcalf

On March 10, 2014, Ben Metcalf, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Programs, talked to NAHMA (National Affordable Housing Management Association) about his memorandum dated March 5, 2014 concerning the newly organized Program Administration Office.

This office was designed to make Multifamily programs and services more responsive to industry feedback, and to approach policy development in a more strategic and transparent way.  HUD has established a list of its highest priorities for development during 2014, along with 25 policy priorities.

“These priorities reflect my commitment to achieving five broad and overarching goals:”, said Metcalf:

• Producing and preserving affordable housing for those most in need and in locations where it’s most needed;
• Preserving affordable housing by improving risk management practices and expanding or enhancing preservation programs;
• Strategically controlling program costs by taking innovative approaches to managing our portfolio;
• Making the business case for increased investments in our programs to  provide the tools we need to do our work; and
• Continuing to provide quality customer service while transforming the way we work to 21st -Century best practices.

These five “highest” priorities are addressed in detail in this memo.