Deborah VanAmerongen is a strategic policy advisor and deputy practice group leader of the Affordable Housing and Real Estate group, heading the firm’s Affordable Housing team. She works with attorneys in our firm and a range of clients, including developers, owners, managers, and funders, to craft creative solutions to affordable housing development and preservation issues.

My focus  

Affordable housing transactions

I focus my practice on complex affordable housing transactions, including those that entail interaction with several governmental agencies and numerous funding sources. I also introduce clients to new opportunities and markets and build partnerships between clients and community groups where that partnership will facilitate the success of a transaction.  

Uniquely positioned to assist our clients

Our Affordable Housing team, representing both transactional and regulatory experience, works with developers, owners, public housing agencies and numerous municipal, state, and federal agencies to develop and preserve affordable housing around the country. The unique combination of our deep regulatory understanding (including HUD policies and programs) and years of experience closing complex affordable housing financial transactions puts us in the center of the affordable housing industry.

Staying at the forefront of developments in housing policy  

Our firm has always placed a strong emphasis on staying ahead of developments in affordable housing policy at the city, state, and federal levels. Through my role on the Executive Committee of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) and on the Board of the Housing Advisory Group (HAG) along with the roles that several of the other practitioners in our firm have with other national and local housing advocacy organizations, we are able to stay in the forefront of policy discussions with the various governmental agencies. This enables us to better advise our clients and spot opportunities and risks that may impact their business.

Representative experience

• Representing all the developer teams joint venturing with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in its RAD/Section 18 PACT transactions, with over 14,000 units rehabilitated through twelve closings in the last six years and over 15,000 additional units scheduled to close in the next few years.

• Provided regulatory counsel to Nuveen in their acquisition of 46 properties comprising roughly 12,000 affordable units from Omni Holding Co. This included approvals from HUD and several New York City, New York State and other state agencies. The transaction increases the value of Nuveen’s affordable housing assets under management to $6.4 billion.

Looking ahead

There has been increased recognition from all quarters of the affordable housing crisis around the country.  We are hopeful that in time this will also result in additional resources being provided by the federal government.  The extraordinary demand on the resources available from housing agencies has forced ever more creative deal structuring, and these challenges will continue for the foreseeable future. I believe there will be a continued and enhanced emphasis on combining supportive services with affordable housing development. I also see HUD continuing its emphasis on the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, and other tools to reposition public housing developments.