LINC Housing Honors State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and Marc Trotz at the 22nd Annual Tribute to Affordable Housing Leaders

LONG BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 6, 2015) - LINC Housing Corporation (LINC) will honor two of the industry's most prominent advocates at the "22^nd Annual Tribute to Affordable Housing Leaders" on July 9 at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This year's honorees are: Toni Atkins, Speaker of the California Assembly; and Marc Trotz, director of housing for health, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

More than 275 development partners, lenders, city and regional leaders, and housing advocates are expected to gather to honor Atkins and Trotz for their leadership and commitment to providing housing for all segments of the population.

"Now more than ever, we need fearless leaders who will stand strong to ensure there's a supply of quality, affordable housing for people of all income levels," said Rebecca Clark, LINC's president and CEO. "Speaker Atkins helps keep the issue at the forefront of the state legislature, while Marc remains focused on homelessness and his work to demonstrate how secure housing is the foundation for healthy communities. We're proud to honor them both at this year's celebration."

Each honoree will receive the William F. McKenna Award, named after one of the founding board members of LINC and a long-time advocate for affordable housing. The housing community will also take the opportunity that evening to recognize Hunter L. Johnson, LINC's former president and CEO, for his decades of dedication to the affordable housing cause and his 18 years of service to LINC Housing. The evening's major sponsor is U.S. Bank. For sponsorship and ticket information, visit www.linchousing.org/tribute.

About the Honorees
Toni Atkins, Speaker of the Assembly
Assembly Speaker Atkins has served in the California State Assembly since 2010, and was elevated to the top leadership post in 2014, when her colleagues unanimously elected her 69th Speaker of the California Assembly. Speaker Atkins proudly represents the people of coastal San Diego, from Imperial Beach, along the Mexican border, north to Solana Beach, and most of central San Diego. She previously served eight years on the San Diego City Council, and became a stabilizing force during a tumultuous period in 2005, stepping in as Acting Mayor after the resignation of the mayor.

Speaker Atkins is a coalition-builder who believes government policies can improve people's lives. She is a leading voice for affordable housing, a powerful advocate for women, and champion for veterans and homeless people. Prior to her election as Speaker, she held the position of Majority Leader. She chaired the Assembly Select Committee on Homelessness, and served on committees on Agriculture, Housing and Community Development, Health, Judiciary, Veterans Affairs, Select Committee on Ports, Select Committee on Biotechnology as well as the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

Marc Trotz, Director of Housing for Health, L.A. County Department of Health Services
Marc Trotz is the director of housing for health, a new program that creates a broad range of residential housing options linked to the public health system within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS).

Trotz came to Los Angeles in 2013, bringing 25 years of experience working in the public sector on housing and health policies in the San Francisco Bay Area. The majority of his work has focused on the development of supportive housing for the homeless, those with chronic health conditions, the elderly, and other populations in need of housing with on-site services. As the Housing Director for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, he introduced and directed the Direct Access to Housing program. Direct Access to Housing has been recognized nationally as a pioneering approach to housing and health improvement for people who have had long histories of homelessness coexisting with complex medical and behavioral health issues. Prior to his work with the Health Department, Trotz worked for the San Francisco Mayor's office of Housing and was the Mayor's homeless coordinator.

Trotz strongly believes that housing is a healthcare issue and that stable and supportive housing environments are necessary to make meaningful and lasting improvements in the lives of homeless clients.

About LINC Housing Corporation
LINC Housing, one of California's most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing, has helped create more than 7,500 homes in 73 communities throughout the state. The organization's properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. LINC has more than 30 years of service to families, seniors, and local governments helping to create sustainable communities via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and historic preservation. Visit www.linchousing.org for more information.