Orlando Cabrera

Orlando is a partner in the Real Estate practice and co-chair of the Affordable Housing industry team. He is widely recognized as a lawyer of choice in affordable housing for financial institutions, investors, syndicators, developers, public housing authorities, housing finance agencies, community development agencies, cities, and counties. Orlando is regularly chosen as one of the ”Best Lawyers in America.”

Orlando was confirmed by the Unites States Senate as Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Orlando focuses on issues relating to HUD regulatory matters (including Native American housing issues), housing finance agency issues, low-income housing tax credits, private activity bonds, debt financing, non-federal state financing programs, tribal financing programs, and general real estate issues.

During his time as the Assistant Secretary, Orlando oversaw the administration of a US $24 billion program, which included public housing, Section 8 vouchers, moderate rehabilitation (mod rehab), and most federal housing and community development programs for Native American tribes nationwide. Orlando has first-hand experience dealing with Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery issues from working through more than a dozen natural disasters together with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and various state disaster recovery agencies.

Orlando also has extensive experience with the project based voucher program and project based contract administration, troubled property, Fair Housing Act and owner regulatory sanction defense issues.

Prior to his time at HUD, Orlando was the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the nation’s fourth-largest housing finance agency. In this position, he developed policies for managing the allocation of the low-income housing tax credit, private activity bonds, HOME Investment Partnership Fund, State Housing Trust Fund, and Local Government Housing Trust Fund. During his tenure at Florida Housing, he also served on the Board of the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

Prior to being named Florida Housing’s Executive Director, Orlando served on the Florida Housing Board of Directors and was its Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Orlando has private sector development and property management experience as well, having been the president and chief executive officer of a major affordable housing developer and owner operating in six states. Orlando led the company through the 2008 economic downturn and planned, disposed of, financed, constructed, or rehabilitated many affordable housing units.

Orlando is a frequent speaker at affordable housing, low income housing tax credit, and public finance conferences and has frequently testified before Congress on affordable housing and community development matters.

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