What is receivership? A code enforcement tool? A way to build affordable homes? A business opportunity? Spoiler alert: it’s all of the above! Our new Receivership Series will explain receivership, how someone becomes a receiver, and how nonprofits can work with receivers to develop affordable homeownership opportunities in their communities.

Session 3 will explain how CDCs can partner with municipalities, funders, and contractors to acquire receivership properties for redevelopment as affordable homeownership opportunities.

This series is designed for:

• Contractors and rental property managers who are interested in learning more about receivership and how to become a receiver.
• Municipal code enforcement and law department officials.
• People who support affordable homeownership development as staff at CDCs.
• Lawyers interested in learning how to incorporate receivership cases into their practices.
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All attendees, and in particular those with limited exposure to receivership, are encouraged to attend Session 1 in addition to Session 2 and Session 3.

Confirmed panelists to date include:

• Judge Dina Fein, retired Housing Court judge

Dina Fein is a retired judge and thought leader focused on advancing access to justice, neighborhood stabilization, and affordable homeownership. Having served on the Massachusetts Housing Court for 21 years, Judge Fein has subject matter expertise in all areas of the law related to housing and a unique perspective on the role of housing on individuals, families, and communities.

• Assistant Attorney General Amber Villa, Chief of the AGO’s Neighborhood Renewal Division

Amber is the Chief of the Neighborhood Renewal Division (NRD) in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and has served in that role since 2020. NRD partners with communities to revitalize neighborhoods through the equitable preservation of existing housing and by supporting the creation of affordable housing. Among other initiatives, NRD works with municipalities to identify and rehabilitate vacant and distressed residential properties using multiple tools, including receivership.

• Amarillys Rodriguez, Community Investment Initiatives Program Manager at MassHousing

Amarillys is a Program Manager with the Strategic Community Investments division of MassHousing. She leads the implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and supports other division programs including the CommonWealth Builder Program, Gateway Housing Rehabilitation Program, and Homeownership Production Tax Credit.

• John Gilbert, Vice President of Real Estate Development at Way Finders