Today more than 200 federal, state and local leaders are convening in Portland to discuss the vital need to preserve and improve affordable rental housing in the Northwest and nationwide. Sponsored by NHC and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the day-long forum, entitled Partners in Innovation: Financing the Preservation of Rural and Urban Affordable Rental Housing, is focused on examining the challenges and the opportunities for preserving affordable rental homes in urban and rural areas.
With a special emphasis on funding preservation efforts, the forum brings together public officials, industry experts, and advocates to discuss and explore ways to better support this work through innovative partnerships, policy development, and legislative reform. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary Carol Galante delivered the keynote luncheon address.
“The preservation and improvement of the nation’s affordable housing stock can have a lasting impact on not only communities, but experts agree that decent, safe and affordable housing can help ensure better health and educational outcomes for families and their children,” said NHC President and CEO Maureen Friar. “This forum is intended to help attendees take these ideas to scale by providing the tailored information and targeted tools necessary in order to inform affordable rental housing preservation initiatives.”
This Partners in Innovation event presents an outstanding line-up of keynote and featured speakers including:
• Michael Bodaken, president, National Housing Trust
• Nick Fish, commissioner, City of Portland, OR
• Maureen Friar, president and CEO, NHC
• Carol Galante, HUD deputy assistant secretary for multifamily housing; and
• Victor Merced, director, Oregon Housing and Community Services
The Oregonian also published an opinion editorial entitled “Keeping Rental Housing Affordable in Oregon” highlighting the Portland forum and the importance of preserving and improving affordable rental housing. The piece was written by featured forum speakers Nick Fish and Victor Merced.
To learn more about the forum, visit Portland “Partners in Innovation” Forum.