Patt Denihan to be Honored by Florida ALHFA for her Outstanding Contributions to Affordable Housing
Patt Denihan’s work will be recognized and celebrated by Florida ALHFA, making her the second recipient of the Pillars of Housing Award. The award will be presented in Sarasota, Florida, posthumously at the 2022 Florida ALHFA Conference. Accepting Patt’s award on behalf of the Denihan family will be her daughter, Sue Denihan.
“The HFA of Lee County is proud to nominate Patt Denihan as the recipient of the Pillars of Housing Award. Patt made exceptional affordable housing contributions over the course of several decades, and we are honored to have known and worked with her,” said Walt Ferguson, Florida ALHFA and HFA of Lee County board member.
Patt began her career in 1984 at Ohio Housing and became a tremendous force in the Affordable Housing industry throughout her career. She was a Principal at eHousingPlus for over two decades until retiring in 2019. Patt was a remarkable person and a one-of-a-kind friend who, through her generosity, kindness, and open heart, touched the lives of many others.
“There are few people that I know that have dedicated their life to first-time homebuyer programs as Patt did. The industry lost a true champion, and we have lost a colleague and dear friend,” said Cristina Miranda Gilson, CEO of HDS Companies.
Florida ALHFA was created in 1982, and HFA’s have been operating since the late 1970s, providing local programs that meet the needs of their residents and leveraging funds to provide viable loan options and down payment assistance, mortgage credit certificates and collaborating with the state on other funding sources. HFAs have been an integral part of their local communities. HFAs were created to take advantage of a federal tax program directed at states and local governments, allowing them to sell tax-exempt bonds to provide mortgages for affordable housing. Patt was a strong supporter of the Florida programs and strongly advocated for the Florida homebuyer throughout her career.