• Local, State and Nat'l News

Forum on Employer-Assisted Housing Jan. 25 at Town Square

Local business and government leaders are invited to attend “Under One Roof,” a forum on employer-assisted housing programs to be held Jan. 25 at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Town Square, 6671 South Las Vegas Blvd., Suite 300.

The three-hour event begins at 8 a.m. and is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online at http://underoneroof.eventbrite.com.

Scheduled speakers include North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck; Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen; Richard Lee, of First American Title Company; Ken LoBene, of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Holly Moskerintz, of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR); Margarita Rebollal, of Community Services of Southern Nevada; Jodi Royal-Goodwin, of the Nevada Housing Division; Z olt Szorenyi, of Lenders Clearing House; and Michelle Villero, of NeighborWorks America. Clark County and Las Vegas officials are also invited. And Patty Kelley, president-elect of the Nevada Association of REALTORS (NVAR), will give some brief remarks.

Event organizer Dawn Lane, founder of the HOPE Home Foundation, said this is the first event of its kind primarily targeting employers in Southern Nevada.

“The goal for the forum is to focus our business leaders on strategies and solutions for responding to today’s two most critical areas – housing and employment,” Lane said. “We want our audience of housing industry professionals, opinion leaders, business owners, human resource managers, elected officials and members of the media to engage in a comprehensive conversation about how to stabilize and strengthen the housing sector using employer-assisted housing programs to encourage sustainable home ownership – especially in neighborhoods near employment centers and in areas needing stabilization.”

Lane said local companies are struggling to retain productive, stable workers. Employer-assisted housing “is an emerging strategy that can give businesses a tool to help.” Through such programs, she said employers can offer affordable housing solutions for their employees. Options can include businesses helping their employees buy or rent a home and offering first-time home buyer and foreclosure prevention counseling. Businesses can benefit financially by hiring and retaining quality employees, through improved morale, greater productivity, lower turnover and more.

The Nevada Association of REALTORS (NVAR) is a primary sponsor of the event, along with the HOPE Home Foundation, Lenders Clearinghouse, Chase, Evergreen Home Loans, Southern Nevada Issues Mobilization Fund, Nations Title Company, Stewart Title of Nevada, First American Title Company, All Western Mortgage, and Professional Realty Group.

About the HOPE Home Foundation

The Las Vegas-based HOPE (Housing Opportunities, Programs and Education) Home foundation has been a pioneer in delivering employer-assisted housing programs for more than 10 years. Visit www.HopeHomeFoundation.com or call (702) 497-6967.

About the NVAR

The Nevada Association of REALTORS is a professional trade association with nearly 14,000 members. NVAR is committed to protecting, promoting and preserving our communities. Visit www.NVAR.org.