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NHC Beyond 4 Walls Podcast

For Immediate Release

NHC Policy Symposium, Gala, highlight work to create opportunities for families and communities

WASHINGTON – Last week the National Housing Conference held its Policy Symposium at the Washington Marriott Metro Center in Washington, DC. The half-day event focused on the ways in which federal housing policy can guide housers to deliver housing in ways that strengthen families and communities.

Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation, delivered the keynote speech, where she discussed AARP’s housing agenda on behalf of America’s older adults. She was followed by Dr. Megan Sandel of Children’s HealthWatch, who shared research on the compounding effects stress, pre- and post-natal homelessness has on children. The report, Compounding Stress: The Timing and Duration Effects of Homelessness on Children’s Health, released June 11 by NHC and Children’s HealthWatch, finds that the longer a child experiences homelessness, the more likely that child is to experience lifelong negative health outcomes.

Panels on the future of low-income homeownership and affordable rental housing as a platform for success provided interactive discussion between panelists and attendees about ways federal and state housing policy can empower low-income homebuyers. The day wrapped up with closing remarks from Chris Estes, president and CEO of NHC, where he reminded attendees to continue to think of affordable housing as an inclusive, mission-driven movement.

On the previous day housing leaders joined NHC at the National Building Museum for its 43rd Annual Gala. The Gala, themed ‘Creating Community,’ awarded Housing Visionary Awards to two comprehensive community development initiatives with affordable housing at the center of their successes: The Community Properties Initiative of Columbus, Ohio and Piece by Piece Regional Foreclosure Response Initiative of Atlanta. Representatives of both initiatives were on hand to accept the awards and share thoughtful success stories with the crowd of over 700.

JPMorgan Chase and Co. served as the 43rd Annual Gala presenting sponsor, with additional sponsorship provided by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, who also presented Friday’s Policy Symposium.

A video webcast of the full symposium is available here. Additional resources from the Annual Policy Symposium can be found on our website.

About the National Housing Conference
The National Housing Conference represents a diverse membership of housing stakeholders including tenant advocates, mortgage bankers, nonprofit and for-profit home builders, property managers, policy practitioners, Realtors®, equity investors, and more, all of whom share a commitment to safe, decent and affordable housing for all in America. We are the nation’s oldest housing advocacy organization, dedicated to the affordable housing mission since our founding in 1931. We are a nonpartisan, 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together our broad-based membership to advocate on housing issues. Learn more at nhc.org.

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Contact:
Radiah Shabazz
202.466.2121 (ext. 240)
rshabazz@nhc.org

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