Join housing leaders from around the country as they explore the role of housing in shaping economic change for individuals and communities. Speakers will address the challenges facing rural America, whether from declining affordability in areas of growth or persistent poverty in areas of disinvestment. They will also highlight solutions by which housing policy can help people in any community lift themselves out of poverty and strengthen communities.

Conference Accessibility Statement:

At our 2016 Policy Symposium, the National Housing Conference is proud to be part of the groundbreaking Accessible Conference Initiative. For this effort, the World Institute on Disability, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co., is actively striving to make community development and policy conferences more accessible to, and inclusive of, people with disabilities.

These convenings of civil rights and community development organizations help to set the economic opportunity agenda. Unless the conferences fully integrate disability access issues into their content--and people with disabilities are present--the needs of the disability community will be largely left out of the discussion. To spearhead movement toward full-inclusion, the World Institute on Disability and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have targeted conferences that attract key decision makers from the nonprofit, business, and public sector communities.

This year, join National Housing Conference, the World Institute on Disability and JPMorgan Chase & Co. in bringing conference accessibility and economic opportunity to the 54 million Americans with disabilities.9:00 a.m.

AGENDA

9:00 a.m.
Welcome:

Chris Estes
President and CEO
National Housing Conference

9:15 a.m.- 9:45 a.m.
Keynote:

The  Honorable Lisa Mensah
Undersecretary for Rural Development
United States Department of Agriculture

9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Communications Presentation: Overcoming Community Opposition

Amy Clark
Director of Marketing and Communications National Housing Conference

10 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.
Break

10:10 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Panel: Rural Communities in Transition

When housing and retail begin to replace green fields, housing can quickly become unaffordable to lower income households. Learn how housing policy is shaping development in rural areas rapidly changing to exurban or suburban areas and how lending and development is responding. Panelists will explore what that means for housing affordability, economic development and future public-private partnerships

Moderator:
Darryl Shore
Vice President of Global Philanthropy
JPMorgan Chase

Speakers:
Chris Jones
Senior Vice president and Chief Planner
Regional Plan Association

Chris Lagrand
Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel
The Woda Group
Tony Hernandez
Rural Housing Service Administrator
USDA Rural Housing Service

Mary Tingerthal
Executive Director
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency

11:20 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. 
Panel: Housing's Place in Solving Poverty

How can housing and housing policy be part of the solution to poverty, either in places of rapid growth with extremes of income in close proximity or in places of persistent disinvestment and economic isolation? Housing leaders will discuss ways housing programs are helping households become more self-sufficient, and what policy changes could enable more people to move out of poverty. They will also dive deep into some of the key details that make housing distinct in poverty responses.

Moderator:
Diane Yentel
President and CEO
National Low Income Housing Coalition

Speakers:
Kris Siglin
Senior Vice President
Housing Partnership Network

Moises Loza
Executive Director
Housing Assistance Council

Christopher Ptomey
Senior Director of Government Relations
Habitat for Humanity International

Nan Roman
President and CEO
National Alliance to End Homelessness

12:50 p.m.
Closing remarks
Chris Estes
President and CEO
National Housing Conference