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Solutions for Housing Communciations
March 15, 2023 8:00 am - 6:00 pm EDT
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Solutions for Housing Communications is the only national convening of housing communications leaders and one of NHC’s premier events. Join housing leaders from across the United States for a full day of sessions on promising communications strategies and tactics to help you expand awareness of the value of affordable housing nationally and in your community. Participants include nonprofit affordable housing developers, local governments, housing authorities, housing finance agencies, financial institutions, intermediaries, and advocacy coalitions. Solutions for Housing Communications 2023 will feature panels on coalition building, branding for manufactured housing, connecting Millennials and Gen Z to housing, and many more.
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Opening Remarks: David DworkinNHC President and CEO, David Dworkin kicked off the convening with a presentation on the fall of the Silicon Valley Bank and why it is important for housing. He also discussed the inflation rate and how it compares to mortgage rates. Lastly, he discussed the current state of the market for first-time home buyers. |
Employer Assisted Housing: Back to FutureThis panel began with a presentation on NHC’s new Employer Assisted Housing toolkit. Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) programs offer a unified solution to housing, jobs, and transportation issues by empowering organizations to increase employee retention and help contribute to local community development initiatives. With unemployment at half-century lows, concerns about the carbon footprint of long commutes, and housing costs at record highs, EAH can be a multifunctional solution to a range of issues. This panel discussed everyone on the panel’s EAH program, the benefits, the negatives, and the best way to market it. |
Molding the Homeownership Message to MillenialsMillennials and Gen Z’s attitudes on homeownership are rapidly changing and widely misunderstood. As Millennial household formation catches up with previous generations, so has the desire to own their own home. Higher interest rates and housing affordability issues all present headwinds against aspiring homebuyers. This panel addressed avenues for connecting with younger audiences, including modernizing and simplifying housing conversations, offering alternatives to homeownership, offering resources to homeownership as well as highlighting the advantages of homeownership. |
A How to Guide to Coalition BuildingCoalitions often actualize the best policy resolutions by creating a space for differing organizations to advocate for specific initiatives while maintaining a singular, common goal. Housing coalitions in particular have succeeded in moving housing initiatives forward, including responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and encouraging the White House to support the Homeowners Assistance Fund. This panel discussed how to successfully form, build, and brand coalitions to identify cooperative goals and enact policy changes. |
Housing on the MicPodcasting has changed the way many people consume information. Podcasts have helped listeners understand large-scale issues through storytelling and compelling interviews and have used their platforms to drive interest in innovative policies. With podcast host Anne Pasmanick from Power Station, Kirk Goodrich from the Housing Problem, KQED: Sold Out Series, and moderated by Oscar Zeballos of Podville Media, this panel explored how communicators use podcasts to create and tell housing stories, including the podcast creation process and script development, provide a look behind-the-scenes, and answer questions about what goes into creating a successful podcast. |
Effective Branding in Manufactured HousingManufactured homes have had a uniquely powerful branding overhaul over the past decades. Homes that were once subject to negative stereotypes are now often considered greener, more sustainable, and more economically responsible home options. This panel discussed how the manufactured housing community revitalized its brand and repositioned its product as an attractive option for younger homebuyers. |
Lessons Learned in Racial Equity InitiativesHow do we most effectively connect with the diverse communities we seek to serve? Channeling the work and experience of communities and organizations across the country, panelists come together to discuss the tools behind their messaging to generate awareness, build communities, and spark change. Panelists discussed how to advance racial equity in homeownership, access affordable housing, and pursue advocacy efforts for policy reforms.
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The Importance of Local News in Housing PolicyLocal news can be a valuable tool for housing organizations and key drivers of successful change. Coverage by local news outlets helps identify the local and personal impacts of broader policy challenges and solutions and makes a strategic message more relatable to a broader audience. This panel brought together local news reporters from a variety of markets to discuss how their coverage of housing issues in their communities contributes to the larger housing discussion. |
Fireside Chat with Amy ScottThe convening ended with a fireside chat with Amy Scott of Marketplace where she discussed her work in creating housing stories. They discussed issues such as the fall of the Silicon Valley Bank, the lack of the use of office spaces, and her approach to reporting housing affordability through storytelling. |