July is an interesting time in Washington, when many folks have one eye to Independence Day celebrations in town, and another to escaping the heat and humidity of the city. While recess puts legislative work on hold, we expect several major opportunities on the regulatory side, as Ethan describes below.
There is no lull in NHC’s work, either. With our signature events, the Annual Gala and Policy Symposium, behind us, we immediately shift our focus to our very busy fall that will culminate in Solutions 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Nov. 18-20.
The Solutions 2014 agenda is available on our website now, and we’ll be adding more information as we flesh out our sessions and speakers. Like last year’s conference in Atlanta, Solutions 2014 focuses on state and local housing policy issues and provides a unique opportunity to hear from advocates, developers, local governments, lenders, syndicators and researchers all in the same place.
We’ve worked hard with our Track Advisory Groups to design workshops that provide diverse and topical content and discussion in the following issue areas:
- Restoring Neighborhoods– strategies and research communities can use for preventing foreclosures, stabilizing neighborhoods and creating a more resilient housing system.
- Housing Intersections– explores the many ways in which stable, affordable housing helps to support other important social outcomes such as health, education and economic prosperity.
- Inclusive Communities– getting affordable housing to areas of opportunity as well as planning for growth and gentrification.
- Housing Communications- promising communications strategies for expanding awareness and building support for affordable housing policies and development.
Workshops will feature best practices, the latest research and a lot of dialog where you can learn more from the presenters as well as other attendees.
We also feature bonus and roundtable tracks, with workshops and facilitated discussions on a range of topics like the importance of design, organizing residents for state advocacy efforts, HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration, talking about homelessness and others.
In addition to exciting plenary and keynote speakers, we will also feature four mobile workshops. These workshops tour developments in different parts of the Bay Area, showcasing a variety of affordable housing examples and giving you the chance to talk to the people involved in making those developments happen. Look out for announcements about speakers and mobile workshop topics soon.
Now is the time to register and secure your discounted hotel room! And if you are interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor at Solutions 2014, there are great opportunities available.
All of this is just a portion of our effort to be an organization of value for those working to increase the supply of and access to quality affordable homes. We thank you for your membership and financial support and hope you will let others know about why becoming a member of NHC will help them in their work.