The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Habitat for Humanity offer a two-day workshop on housing finance

Delhi, May 5, 2017 – Global housing organization Habitat for Humanity will offer a two-day workshop on housing finance in Delhi to contribute to the country’s agenda of Housing for All by 2022. The workshop is an adaptation of Wharton’s world renowned International Housing Finance Program and addresses the need for education in policy innovations and financial and managerial aspects of housing finance. The workshop is designed to provide hands-on teaching in the preparation of mortgage securitizations, mortgage bond and hybrid deals. The session will predominantly be delivered by Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit, Director of the International Housing Finance Program of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Drs. Marja is the founder and executive director of Housing Finance Information Network (HOFINET).

The workshop will be held in New Delhi at the India Habitat Centre on July 4 and 5 before the India leg of the Sixth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum kicks off on July 6. Joint certificates from the Wharton School and Habitat for Humanity India shall be issued to all participants on completion of the workshop. Admissions are on a first-come-first-served basis for limited seats that are available.

Commenting on the urgent need for such a workshop, Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India said, “Housing for All by 2022 is the national flagship programme in India. The focus on the need for housing in rural and urban India has come to the forefront with a huge housing deficit. Increasingly the financing of affordable housing and creating credit access for affordable housing has become an important agenda for housing finance companies and banks in the country. The need for objective and analytical education in housing finance has thus become increasingly significant.”

Drs Marja C. Hoek-Smit, Director of the International Housing Finance Program of the Wharton School, Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center of the University of Pennsylvania said, “India’s Housing for All by 2022 initiative is impressive. Though its scale is indeed gigantic, the steely focus by the government, and the enthusiasm demonstrated by corporations and non-governmental organizations will ensure the goal is achievable. Our small contribution is a tailored Wharton-Habitat workshop for the Housing Forum that focuses on the efficiency levels of making housing finance accessible to people in need of affordable options.”