This is the latest of several quick bios we'll blog of speakers scheduled to appear at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, Nov. 18 in South Burlington.

Read about other speakers scheduled to present at the event and register to attend at the conference Web site.

Amy Wright is Development Director for Cathedral Square Corp., a non-profit organization that owns and manages affordable properties for seniors and people with special needs. She has more than 25 years of experience in affordable housing finance and development.

This morning, we received our 100th registration for the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference coming to South Burlington on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

If you haven't already, register now. You can register and pay online using PayPal or a credit card. Or download the PDF registration form and mail it in with your check.

The day-long conference is just $40, if you register before Oct. 17.

The recently enacted Federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HR 3221) contains a number of reforms, including changes that will affect the Housing Credit program.

VHFA has proposed additional changes to Vermont's Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), not initiated by this legislation but based on other policy changes, feedback, and program experience.

These changes pertain to:

• The definition of "blight";
• The mixed-income threshold;
• Permanent supportive housing; and
• Homeownership tax credit

We've placed several documents explaining these proposals on our Web site.

This is the latest of several quick bios we'll blog of speakers scheduled to appear at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, Nov. 18 in South Burlington.

Read about other speakers scheduled to present at the event and register to attend at the conference Web site.

As a Housing Policy Analyst with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Douglas Rice's work focuses on the impact of federal housing policy on low-income families.