Training

Training in Multifamily Affordable Housing Finance

CHPC is nationally recognized as a leading trainer in multifamily affordable housing finance. Since 1992, CHPC has been the lead trainer for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Statewide Housing Development Institute, an intensive year-long training program for project managers. CHPC’s experienced staff has developed techniques for making even complex topics like tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing understandable and accessible to professional housing staff and nonprofit board members alike.

Our team also provides comprehensive training for local government housing staff on best practices in underwriting new affordable housing transactions as well as in preserving existing affordable housing. Training sessions focus on basics as well as the latest techniques and strategies in combining funding sources as well as what housing is at risk and the tools and strategies to preserve it. Our team then helps local agencies develop their own tool kit potentially including a new proforma, underwriting guidelines and benchmarks, and, in the case of preserving existing housing at-risk of conversion, a plan of action for preserving these properties in the most cost-effective manner.

CHPC works closely with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Enterprise Foundation and the Corporation for Supportive Housing as well as with the California members of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA) to develop new trainings. Other training clients include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the California Redevelopment Association, the Los Angeles Housing Department, the San Diego Housing Commission, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Low Income Investment Fund, and the staff of numerous nonprofit and local government housing agencies.

Training Program

CHPC staff can tailor the scope and timing of trainings to meet your organization’s specific needs. Half-day, full-day, and multiple-day sessions are available. CHPC can also develop new training topics tailored to groups of up to 30 people. Each participant receives a copy of the training materials, allowing them to listen and absorb the material without having to take notes. Reference materials are provided in a concise format, facilitating individual research afterwards.

For more information or arrange a training session, contact CHPC’s Director of Training, Laura Kobler, at (916) 683-1180 (lkobler@chpc.net).

Assistance with Strategic Thinking about the Field

CHPC is also asked periodically to provide input into our partner’s strategic thinking about the future of affordable housing with particular emphasis on changes in the availability and competitiveness of various forms of existing and potential new financing.

Examples of Training Workshops

Tax Credits 101

The Low Income Housing Tax Credit is one of today’s most important but complex financing tools for the creation and preservation of affordable homes. This half-day workshop combines lecture and group exercises to introduce the nuts and bolts of the tax credit program. Participants will learn the program basics, how to calculate the credit, and how to successfully obtain a credit allocation in California’s competitive environment.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Bonds, But Were Afraid to Ask

Tax Exempt Bond Financing is a financing tool now commonly used by affordable home developers. This introductory workshop combines lecture and group exercises to introduce the basics of a complex finance tool with its own requirements and players. In this half-day workshop, participants will learn the program’s basic and technical requirements, the who and why of the multitude of players, the process of obtaining a bond allocation, credit enhancements, and the cost of issuance.

Understanding and Using Project-Based Vouchers & Leveraging Section 8

Participants in this workshop benefit from CHPC’s nationally recognized pioneering work in developing applications of the project-based voucher program. Workshop content includes the basics about these programs, examples of how to use them to finance new construction as well as preservation of existing housing, and the outlook for additional improvements to the programs.

In Sickness and Health: Structuring Effective Partnerships

Partnerships between organizations can present benefits and challenges in the development and ownership of affordable housing. Maturing and experienced nonprofit housing development organizations, supportive service agencies, and public agencies will benefit from hearing about three partnership models, their benefits and challenges, their typical legal agreements, and ideal candidates.

Developing and Financing Affordable Housing with Photovoltaic Systems

A case study of a garden style affordable housing development that uses solar power for units as well as the common area offers instruction on how to use low income housing tax credits, energy rebates, business tax credits and zero utility allowances to finance a project with almost 90% photovoltaic on-site energy generation. Explores topics including design, entitlement, and construction using on-site energy supply plus highly efficient energy demand under new Title 24. Participants will receive information on financing tools and development considerations.

Introduction to Affordable Housing

This workshop introduces the basics of affordable housing to the staff of nonprofit housing developers and local government agencies that are new to the field of affordable housing. Participants will explore the need for affordable housing, who develops affordable housing, the real estate development process, reviewing development budgets, overview of types of financing, basic proformas and funding sources for affordable housing.

Year 15 Exit Strategies

Participants in this workshop will be introduced to the issue of Year 15 exit strategies; will explore options and rights of first refusal; learn how to determine fair market value, calculate tax liability, calculate general partner cash to buy back the projects; and explore nonprofit purchase strategies.

Looking at the Backend from the Front End

Participants in this workshop will be introduced to the backend of tax credits (Year 15 disposition issues, like limited partner changes, deal structuring to mitigate the issues, cash requirements, etc.), basic tax concepts that affect exit tax liabilities, demystifying investment projections, and factors to negotiate a workable backend structure.

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