NHC Names New Chief of Research Arm

The National Housing Conference has announced that Jeffrey Lubell is the new executive director of its research arm, the Center for Housing Policy.An expert in housing and community development, Mr. Lubell previously worked at the Department of the Housing and Urban Development as the director for policy development. "You are going to see a much stronger and more robust Center for Housing Policy under director Jeff Lubell," NHC president Conrad Egan said. After Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Lubell authored a discussion paper for NHC advocating the use of a land bank to help New Orleans rebuild its housing stock, which was devastated by flooding. Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., incorporated a similar concept into his Louisiana Recovery Act bill (H.R. 4100), which is pending in Congress. "We were pleased to see the Baker bill passed the House Financial Services Committee," Mr. Egan said. NHC, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, will continue to push for its enactment, he added.