PROGRAM
View the program schedule and sessions
HOUSING WASHINGTON 2024 SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
In-Person Events
All titles, time slots, & presentations are subject to change.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 | LEARNING LABS
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Registration Opens (Open all Day)
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM | LEARNING LABS 1 – 5
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Learning Lab 1: AI’s Implications for Housing
Presenters: David Blum, Agnitio Capital; Bryan Copley, City Bldr
Description: In this breakout [Lab] session, we will review some of the most significant impacts that AI - along with its’ component technologies – will make on our challenge of planning, designing, financing and building more cost effective and livable housing.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Learning Lab 2: Black Home Initiative
Presenters: Gregory Davis, Rainier Beach Action Coalition; Marty Kooistra, Black Home Initiative; Cory Orvold, Coldwell Banker; Darryl Smith, HomeSight
Description: Join this special learning lab in the homeownership track to get the latest information on Black Home Initiative (BHI). BHI is a multi-sector, partner-driven network focused on increasing and sustaining Black Homeowners in King and Pierce Counties. BHI network leaders will provide updates on what the BHI impact network has learned to date in the areas of: developing partner networks; increasing affordable home supply; identifying and supporting homebuyers; and shaping an overall “housing ecosystem” that fosters deeper, impactful collaboration to change systems and policies.
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Learning Lab 4: Housing 101
Presenter: Michelle Morlan, Lotus Development Partners LLC
Description: Gain insights into the process, financing, and principles of creating affordable housing in Washington from a developer’s perspective. This interactive session covers key topics like LIHTC, the necessity of public subsidies, and funding sources, offering valuable information for both newcomers and experienced professionals.
GENERAL TRACK
Learning Lab 5: Pathways to Housing Security in Washington
Presenters: Jed Chalupa, William D. Ruckelshaus Center; Bridget Kelly, Burke Kelly Consulting
Description: A developer's perspective on the process, financing, and basic principles of creating affordable housing in Washington. Whether you are brand new to the field or need to re-visit some of the any facets of the industry, you will find something of value in this interactive conversation. What is LIHTC? Why doesn't this work without public subsidy? Where does the money come from? These are just a few of the many questions we tackle together in this session.
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM | SPECIAL EVENT
Networking Welcome Reception
7:30 AM – 6:00 PM | Registration Opens (Open all Day)
7:30 AM – 8:45 AM | Breakfast & Networking
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Exhibitor Showcase
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM | KEYNOTE
PLENARY
Opening Keynote
Keynoter: Stephanie Land, Author
Description: Stephanie Land is an American author and activist whose writing focuses on social and economic justice, as well as parenting under the poverty line. Her debut book, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, was a #2 New York Times bestseller and adapted into a limited series on Netflix. The book details Land’s personal experience with poverty, relying on government assistance programs to support herself and her daughter.
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Break
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | SESSIONS 1 – 4
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Session 1: Unknitting NIMBYism
Presenters: Brian Points, Points Consulting; Carson Valley, Points Consulting
Description: Community leaders recognize the need for affordable housing and the necessary policy changes. However, managing this change amidst opposition to housing density and zoning is challenging. Drawing from nationwide housing analysis and implementation plans, presenters will share best practices for finding common ground with opposing groups and identifying broadly acceptable solutions.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Session 2: Realizing Economies of Scale through Modular Housing
Presenters: Grace Kim, Schematic Workshop; Aaron Holm, Somapath Advisory; Jeffrey Lubell, Abt Global
Description: In partnership with the Housing Development Consortium, explore how modular housing can achieve economies of scale in producing affordable homes in Washington state Learn about the obstacles to expanding modular housing and proposed solutions to harness this method’s potential to significantly lower housing costs.
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
Session 3: Fair Housing Trends and Updates: Prevent Fair Housing Complaints
Presenters: Michael Chin, Seattle Office for Civil Rights; Jim Owens, Washington State Human Rights Commission; Heidi Termer, Washington State Human Rights Commission
Description: Delve into key fair housing issues and get the latest legal updates from across Washington state. Presenters will share their insights on handling fair housing complaints and offer practical tips and best practices to prevent violations. Topics include disability and reasonable accommodations, race discrimination, harassment, and discriminatory appraisals.
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Session 4: Apple Health & Homes: Housing & Health Care Partnerships
Presenters: Kimberly Castle, Washington State Health Care Authority; Whitney Joy Howard, Washington Department of Social and Health Services; Melodie Pazolt, Washington State Department of Commerce
Description: This session, inspired by ESHB 1866 passed in the 2022 Legislative session, will highlight the Apple Health and Homes initiative, focused on the complex needs of chronically homeless individuals and those with significant institutional, inpatient, and residential stays. Strategies for providing comprehensive support to homeless individuals through quality PSH and how communities can effectively support these efforts will be explored.
11:00 AM – 11:10 PM | Break
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM | SESSIONS 6 – 10
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Session 6: Planning for Deeply Affordable Housing
Presenters: Laura Hodgson, Washington State Department of Commerce; Adrian Smith, City of Port Townsend
Description: Local governments must plan for housing development for residents earning less than 50% of AMI. This session will explore how advocates and developers can encourage better planning and regulations for deeply affordable housing. It will also highlight resources from the Department of Commerce and showcase Port Townsend’s regulations developed with local housing providers.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Session 7: Public Funding for Affordable Homeownership
Presenters: Loretta Cael, Parkview Services East; Kathleen Hosfeld, Homestead Community Land Trust; Rebecca Wold, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties; Colleen Robinson, Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County
Description: Learn the essential aspects of seeking and maintaining public funding from planning to strategy, including how to best layer funds, which funds pairs best together, lessons learned, and how to build a sustainable public funding program at your agency
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
Session 8: Building Equitable & Inclusive Communities: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
Presenters: Michael Chin, City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights; Marley Hochendoner, Northwest Fair Housing Alliance; Heidi Termer, Washington State Human Rights Commission
Description: Explore tools and strategies to promote fair housing and foster inclusive communities. Presenters will address housing policies and practices that create barriers for communities of color and marginalized groups. Topics include affirmative marketing, disparate impact, the use of conviction records, technology’s role, and racial equity toolkits.
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Session 9: Emerging Developers & Capacity Building: Partnerships & Programs
Presenters: Jess Blanch, Enterprise Community Partners; Mansour Camara, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle; AJ Cari, Local Initiatives Support Coalition; Conor Hansen, SRM; Chancey Jones, Take Up The Cause; Jonathan Mallahan, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington
Description: Learn how housing that is developed by and for communities has become a priority in our state. Take an in-depth look at the various programs and partnerships designed to increase the capacity of Community Based Organizations and emerging developers to develop, own, and manage affordable housing.
GENERAL TRACK
Session 10: CDCs at 50
Moderator: Tony To, CDC Activist (retired)
Presenters: Jamie Lee, SCIDpda; Jared Jonson, SCIDpda; Christoper Persons, Community Roots Housing; Michael Seiwerath, SouthEast Effective Development
Description: In the late 1960s and 1970s, there was a national movement to create Community Development Corporations (CDCs). These grassroots, place-based organizations were formed to respond to local needs, with many of them aligning with the civil rights era fight against redlining and racist disinvestment in urban communities. In Washington State the first wave of CDCs are turning 50 years old. The pandemic showed us the place-based approach is more relevant than ever. What have they accomplished and how provide affordable housing in their communities? What does it mean to be a CDC in 2024?
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM | KEYNOTE & LUNCH
PLENARY
Lunch Keynote
Keynoter: Kevin Adler, Award-winning Social Entrepreneur & Author
Description: Hear the compelling story of the rediscovery of our humanity and how each of us plays a role in ending homelessness in America by the author of the best-selling book, When We Walk By.
1:30 PM – 1:40 PM | Break
1:40 PM – 2:40 PM | SESSIONS 11 – 15
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Session 11: Powering Our Movement With Lived Experience
Presenters: Quinton Baker, Forge; Chris Harbert, Family Promise; Duaa-Rahemaah Hunter, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Rachael Myers, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Michelle Pappas, Future Wise
Description: The Resident Action Project (RAP) organizes with residents of affordable homes and others who have experienced housing instability or homelessness to change public policy so that everyone in Washington can live in a safe, stable, affordable home. Join RAP members and staff to learn why we organize and how resident leadership is a key to thriving affordable housing communities and to building the power we need to solve our state’s affordable housing crisis.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Session 12: Housing & Mortgage Market Affordability
Presenter: Mofioluwasademi (Moffii) Ige, Freddie Mac
Description: In this session, economists from Freddie Mac’s Mission and Community Engagement team will provide a glimpse into homeownership trends across the country and here in Washington.
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
Session 13: Post-Occupancy Evaluation in New Affordable Housing
Presenters: Maggie Harris, Holst Architecture; Cory Hawbecker, Holst Architecture
Description: Join us for an engaging session on the recently completed Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of 72Foster, an affordable multifamily building in Portland, Oregon. This study brought together residents and building staff to explore how their lived experiences matched the design’s intentions. The POE offered residents a platform to share their thoughts on their homes, providing the design team with invaluable insights into the building’s security, functionality, and comfort. This session will delve into our POE methods and findings, highlighting key lessons learned that will shape our future design processes.
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Session 14: Mass Timber’s Triple Bottom Line – Too Good to be True?
Presenters: Todd Beyreuther, Mercer Mass Timber; Meghan Doring, atelierjones; Bec Wilder, Green Canopy NODE
Description: Learn why your next multifamily project should be built with mass timber, how predevelopment using this product can achieve unparalleled construction efficiency, and the scientific findings of mass timber’s zero carbon potential and contributions to the health and safety of residents. Explore ethically and sustainable sourcing, its low carbon footprint, building codes surrounding mass timber, how this product is healthier, the least cost, and how pre-development is faster, safer, and less disruptive.
GENERAL TRACK
Session 15: Like Winning the Lottery: Preserving More Low-Income Housing Through Healthy Home Repairs
Presenters: Katie Dong, Washington State Budget and Policy Center; Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin, Fireland Worker United/Trabajadores Unidos; Corey Trolani, Rural People’s Voice; Laura Viik, Washington State Department of Commerce
Description: Healthy Home Repairs is a cost-effective win for affordable housing, health, climate resiliency, decarbonization, and good green jobs across Washington State: preserving existing low income housing for a fraction of the cost of constructing new housing units, providing constructions jobs with career ladders, and giving working families and fixed income elders lower utility bills and higher quality of life. We’ll share innovations for scaling up this work statewide.
2:30 PM – 2:50 PM | Break
2:50 PM – 3:50 PM | SESSIONS 16 – 20
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Session 16: Moving Forward without Leaving People Behind
Presenter: George Zeno, The Athena Group
Description: When developing and implementing housing plans and policies, it is important to make sure everyone that is impacted is involved. Yet that is easier said than done. This session will actively engage participants in the challenges and opportunities of being inclusive, and decisions that can be made in the planning stages that can be a game changer.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Session 17: DNR: Long-term Lease for Affordable Housing
Presenters: Krosbie Carter, Department of Natural Resources; Representative; April Connors, Washington State House of Representatives, 8th District; Representative Mari Leavitt, Washington State House of Representatives, 28th District; Jet J. T. Richardson, Habitat for Humanity Tri-County
Description: This panel will recap recent legislation on leaseholder excise tax exemption for affordable housing on DNR land that passed this last legislative session. Hear from DNR on how this bill creates more affordable housing opportunities, and the steps to participate. Hear from the Legislative champions on why this was their priority and insights to their success.
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
Session 18: NSPIRE Inspections 1: Past Isn’t Prologue
Presenter: Brandon Bay, US Housing Consultants
Description: Past inspection performance isn’t necessarily a guarantee of future success. Since the implementation of NSPIRE, some previously successful properties are failing. Why? In this session, we will take a bird's eye look at the new protocol, including how scoring changes have surprised many property owners and managers. We will also touch on some of the most significant changes to deficiencies. This session is a must for understanding NSPIRE’s impact.
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Session 19: Setting New Sustainability Standards for Affordable Housing
Presenters: Becky Bicknell, Walsh Construction Company; Jess Blanch, Enterprise Community; Joel Ing, Edge Developers; Kimberly Loewen, Elevate; Patience Malaba, Housing Development Consortium; David Reddy, O’Brien 360
Description: Join us for an insightful discussion that focuses on promising practices emerging from affordable housing sustainability programs. In the face of explosive growth, unprecedented housing inequity, and the challenges presented by climate change, this session confronts the vital question of addressing all three issues simultaneously.
GENERAL TRACK
Session 20: Community Involvement for Effective Housing
Presenters: Tsega Desta, Ethiopian Community of Seattle; Brian Lloyd, Beacon Development Group; Shannon Rowan, Environmental Works; Jess Zimbabwe, Environmental Works
Description: Housing developers, and particularly affordable housing owners operating within limited budgets, must delicately navigate the complex balance of sustainability and affordability in anticipation of accessing Inflation Reduction Act funding. We will delve into strategies learned for new construction and introduce a new initiative, "Decarbonize Affordable Housing Now", to prepare for updated energy code impacts on existing buildings. Building and retrofitting proactively, through a sustainability lens, will implement urgently needed greenhouse gas emission reductions, enhanced energy efficiency, and resilient preservation of existing affordable housing buildings.
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM | Break
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | SESSIONS 21 – 25
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Session 21: How Do You Know You’re Contributing to Change at the Community Level?
Presenter: Brooke Finn, NeighborWorks America
Description: Community development organizations want to make a positive impact in the neighborhoods and communities where they work beyond providing housing and services—comprehensive community development approach. But how can they understand the extent of positive change in the community when the change happens over time and in ways not easily measured? In 2013, NeighborWorks America approached that challenge by working with Success Measures to help local organizations across NeighborWorks’ member network through the Community Impact Measurement (CIM) project. Today, over 60 organizations participate in CIM by using the measurement tools of Success to measure change over time in social capital, resident satisfaction and perception of the community as well as physical conditions. This session will describe the project, methodology and findings, including both the experience of local NeighborWorks organizations and a project-wide perspective.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
Session 22: Community Reinvestment Program (CRP): Healing & Action to Build a Better Washington
Presenters: Anzhane Slaughter, African American Leadership Forum; Darryl Smith, Homesight
Description: During this session, recipients of CRP funds will discuss some of the roadblocks and institutionalized barriers to success for those impacted by the war on drugs. Those organizations will also share what they are doing to assist BIPOC people to overcome those roadblocks.
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
Session 23: NSPIRE Inspections 2: The Administrative Demands of NSPIRE
Presenter: Brandon Bay, US Housing Consultants
Description: There are potential administrative pitfalls baked into NSPIRE. This session will give you the skinny on administrative implementation, including inspection timelines, navigating the new portal, and overall preparation for the new inspection protocol. Don’t be scared. Be prepared.
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Session 24: Debt & Equity Market Updates
Presenters: Mike Hemmens, Citi Community Capital; Paul M. Cummings, National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT); David Musial, National Equity Fund, Phillip Porter, Enterprise Community Partners
Description: This panel will discuss market trends in pricing, terms, and availability of debt and equity capital.
GENERAL TRACK
Session 25: Intersection Between Supportive Housing & Supported Employment
Presenters: Dawn Miller, Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA); Darren Paschke, HCA; Anessa Williams, HCA
Description: This session will feature subject matter experts in supported employment, demonstrating how gaining employment can significantly impact various aspects of life. Attendees will learn how employment can maximize housing opportunities and personal choice, help individuals generate income to reduce reliance on housing subsidies, and access a crucial component of behavioral health recovery. Join us to explore the transformative power of employment in enhancing stability and well-being.
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM | SPECIAL EVENT
Friend of Housing Awards Ceremony
Presented by The Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Location: DoubleTree Hotel, Grand Ballroom
SPONSORED BY
7:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Registration Opens
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Breakfast & Networking
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Exhibitor Showcase
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | TECH HOUR
Tech Hour: Advancing AI to Mitigate Homelessness and to Promote Equity in Housing
Presenter: Phebe Vayanos, University of Southern California
Description: What if we designed AI explicitly to advance social justice? In this talk, we will discuss our research advancing AI to empower vulnerable communities, focusing on our work to improve the system for matching people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles with the city’s extremely scarce housing resources. We will share about the hard moral trade-offs that policy-makers and communities have to grapple with and about AI that leverage administrative data from the homeless management information system (HMIS) to design policies that align with the moral priorities of stakeholders.
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Break
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM | KEYNOTE
PLENARY
Morning Keynote
Embracing DEI for Leaders: Diversity – We Got What We Fought For, But Lost What We Had
Keynoter: Benjamin Jealous, Sierra Club (former Democratic Nominee for Governor of Maryland and former National President and CEO, NAACP)
Description: Coming Soon!
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Break
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | SESSIONS 26 – 30
ADVOCACY & COMMUNICATIONS
Session 26: State Legislative Roundtable
Presenter: Rachael Myers, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; state legislators (to be announced)
Description: The last state legislative session saw the continuation of significant budget investments to build subsidized, affordable homes but missed important opportunities to create permanent funding for the Housing Trust Fund and to address a root cause of homelessness by protecting tenants from excessive rent increases. Join Housing Alliance Executive Director, Rachael Myers, and key state lawmakers for a virtual roundtable discussion about what to expect in 2025 and how stakeholders can advance solutions to end our state’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis.
MULTIFAMILY MANAGEMENT
Session 27: Greenbridge Mixed Income Community
Presenters: John Eliason, King County Housing Authority; Tim Walter, King County Housing Authority
Description: Come enjoy the amazing stories of planning and development of Greenbridge and Seola Gardens, 2 transforming beacons in the White Center community of King County.
Greenbridge sits at the center of KCHA’s ambitious effort to revitalize the White Center neighborhood. Together with nearby Seola Gardens, the King County Housing Authority has committed more than $250 million in public and private funding since the early 2000s toward this goal. A pair of vibrant, sustainable, master planned and mixed-income communities are the result.
KCHA developed Greenbridge to replace Park Lake Homes, a collection of World War II-era dwellings built to house defense workers. The new, modern, brightly colored apartments and townhomes of Greenbridge stand in stark contrast to the run-down, outdated buildings that low-income residents of Park Lake called home until 2005.
When all renters and homeowners have moved in, the community will be home to more than 3,000 people. With on-site facilities that include an elementary school, a community center, and a library branch, it emphasizes educational opportunities as well as housing. Greenbridge also boasts many sustainable features such as drought tolerant landscape, narrow streets and solar panels that conserve resources and limit impact on the environment.
Session 28: Navigating Difficult Deals: How to Keep Your Head & Your Team
Presenters: Tracy Ann Cleveland, Indigo Real Estate; Miquel Hernandez, Human Good Affordable Housing; Valerie Hill, Allied Residential; Cindy Proctor, Beacon Development
Description: A positive and enlightening look at navigating the complicated financing of projects. Discussing challenges in adhering to different funder regulatory agreements and the training/oversight required. Sharing experiences in the post-COVID world and on. How does each department own a portion of the process and how to foster a collaborative environment. Understanding the pressures each department is under – from financing, qualifying, the hand off and facilities final punch.
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT
Session 29: The Importance of Manufactured Housing Community Preservation & The New HUD Initiative
Presenters: Greg Blount, Manufactured Housing Community Preservationists; Brigid Henderson, Washington State Department of Commerce; Victoria O’Banion, NW Development Corporation/ROC Northwest; Pavel Parfilo, Spokane County
Description: Manufactured housing communities are essential for low and moderate-income households. Learn how community preservation can help resolve Washington’s housing crisis. Presenters will discuss the HUD Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) application submitted by the Department of Commerce.
GENERAL TRACK
Session 30: Coffee Talk with Friend of Housing Awardees
Presenters: 2024 Friend of Housing Awardees
Description: Join to meet and greet the Friend of Housing awardees. Learn about their programs and how they made a difference in enhancing affordable housing
12:15 AM – 2:00 PM | KEYNOTE & NETWORKING LUNCH
PLENARY
Closing Keynote
A View From DC: Interview with Election & Legislative Expert David Bradley
Keynoter: David Bradley, National Community Action Foundation
Moderator: Nick Federici, Government Relations Consultant
Description: Get your burning political questions answered and tap into a seasoned insider’s perspective on the upcoming election from our favorite Washington DC leader in this Town Hall style closing keynote.