State Comptroller DiNapoli Names Marge Rogatz, LI Housing Advocate, to SONYMA Board of Directors

NEW YORK, NY (01/31/2008)(readMedia)-- State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has named Marge Rogatz, a well-known Long Island housing advocate, to serve as the Comptroller’s representative on the Board of Directors of the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).

Ms. Rogatz has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Advocates, Inc., since 1986, providing critical leadership on the issues of homelessness and the need for affordable housing on Long Island.

“Marge Rogatz brings the kind of experience and drive that can make a difference,” Mr. DiNapoli said. “She understands the need for affordable housing, and more importantly, she knows how to get things done.”

“I am honored that Marge will be able to bring her deep knowledge of housing to the SONYMA board,” said Priscilla Almodovar, President and Chief Executive Officer of SONYMA. “Her voice and her experience will be critical as SONYMA moves to expand homeownership opportunities to all New Yorkers.”

Ms. Rogatz said, “Having spent most of my life advocating for decent affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, I feel extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to serve on the SONYMA board. I look forward to working with everyone at SONYMA to make the dream of homeownership possible for many more New Yorkers.”

Ms. Rogatz has been a leading advocate for affordable housing on Long Island for many years. Under her leadership, Community Advocates has established a number of precedent-setting initiatives, including the development of the first permanent rental apartments for homeless families in Nassau County.

Ms. Rogatz helped found the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless in 1988 and served as an officer and on its executive board for 16 years. Since 1995, she has played a vital role in helping bring more than $80 million in Federal and other funding to nonprofit housing and service providers on Long Island.

Ms. Rogatz is also a founding board member and officer of ERASE Racism, Sustainable Long Island and the LI Campaign for Affordable Rental Housing. She serves on the board of the Long Island Community Foundation, the Nassau County Task Force on Homelessness and the Nassau County Panel on Next Generation Housing. In 2007, she was appointed Chair of the Nassau County 10-year Plan to End Homelessness by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.

Previously, Ms. Rogatz was a consultant in the fields of community development and human services for New York City Mayor John Lindsay, Nassau County Executive Eugene Nickerson and Suffolk County Executive John Klein. She also consulted for the Head Start centers in New York City and for community hospitals and organizations in East Harlem and the South Bronx. During the civil rights movement, Ms. Rogatz served as special assistant to James Farmer, National Director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

Ms. Rogatz attended Smith College, graduated from Barnard College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She has been the recipient of numerous awards for her housing advocacy, humanitarian service and community activism.

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SONYMA is a State agency that was created in 1970 with the mission of helping low- and moderate- income families become homeowners. It offers a variety of low down payment mortgages that provide below-market fixed interest rates, as well as closing cost assistance through a network of participating lenders across the state.

New York State Office of the State Comptroller, www.osc.state.ny.us

State of New York Mortgage Agency, www.nyhomes.org

Comptroller Contact: Dennis Tompkins, Director of Communications, 518-474-4015, dtompkins@osc.state.ny.us

SONYMA Contact: Philip Lentz, Director of Communications, 212-688-4000 x679, plentz@nyhomes.org

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