Stanley Schear, a housing consultant who works with several nonprofit housing agencies, said the program "has real value, but is very vague."

The charges center on Mr. Watt's activities as a private housing consultant after he left the Reagan Cabinet in 1983.

Ms. Dean, who is now working as a housing consultant, has denied wrongdoing.

Mr. Becker, the housing consultant, says retirement communities are offering more amenities and financial incentives as the market grows more competitive.

As one housing consultant put it:

Tony is a housing consultant.

Ms. Dean, who is now a private housing consultant, said the White House called a number of times regarding the Regents Park project.

Now a housing consultant in Washington, Mr. Demery said he made no awards on the basis of favoritism.

Mr. Watt had originally been charged with 25 felonies related to influence-peddling in his role as a private housing consultant.

William Becker, a housing consultant in Teaneck, said the waterfront could absorb about 1,000 rentals a year for the next three years.