We will soon begin putting together our 2020 Agenda. If you have suggestions or would like to be considered as a speaker, please fill out the contact form on the Contact Us page. See below for our 2019 Agenda—presentations are included as available.
Monday, October 7
10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Housing Credits 101: Learn the Basics
Room 402
The success of a Housing Credit development depends on the allocating agency, the developer, the lender and the investor. This session will clarify these roles, analyze a typical tax credit transaction and explain the reservation process and tax credit period.
Rebecca Darling, CPA, partner, and Chris Key, principal, Novogradac & Company LLP, Alpharetta, Ga.
New Issues in Fair Housing Law
Room 304
This workshop will review new state and federal proposals, guidance and requirements regarding housing discrimination. Find out how it will all affect your rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.
Jack Holtzman, senior staff attorney, NC Justice Center, co-director, and Kelly Clarke, supervising attorney, Fair Housing Project, Legal Aid of NC, Raleigh
Financing Energy Efficiency to Increase Operating Income
Room 301A
In addition to making properties more efficient, healthy, comfortable and affordable for residents, investments in energy and water upgrades can also enhance a building’s financial performance. This session includes case studies of energy and water efficient portfolios, strategies to identify investment opportunities and traditional and emerging financing options with lenders to finance efficiency improvements.
Bettina Bergöö, green finance fellow, Center for Market Innovation, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York; Laurie Colwander, director of multifamily services, Southern Energy Management, Raleigh; and Melissa Malkin-Weber, sustainability director, Self-Help Credit Union, Durham
Financing Energy Efficiency to Increase Operating Income by Bettina Bergoo
Energy Efficiency by Melissa Malkin Weber
Technical Update Session: Hot Topics in LIHTC
Room 302
Whether it’s deal structures, Opportunity Zones, compliance strategies or exit negotiations, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) practitioners must constantly adapt in response to new ideas and external challenges. Join a panel of leading accountants and attorneys as they explore the details and practical implications of recent developments in the tax credit program.
Carolyn Scogin, attorney, Blanco Tackabery, Winston-Salem; David Pryzwansky, attorney, The Pryzwansky Law Firm, PA; Kim Ripberger, partner, Bernard Robinson & Company, Greensboro; and Ryder Mathias, senior tax manager, CohnReznick, Charlotte
Housing Counseling's Role in Disaster Recovery
Room 301B
It is critical in the aftermath of a disaster that organizations with trusted relationships in impacted communities are empowered with the most up-to-date information on how to help families access needed federal and state resources. This workshop will focus on the role housing counselors and agencies might play in responding in the short and long term to future disasters.
George Hausen, president and executive director, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh; Ibijoke Akinbowale, housing counseling director, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Washington, DC; and Sofia Crisp, executive director, Housing Consultants Group, Greensboro
Partnerships, Innovation and Responsiveness with the Community Reinvestment Act
Room 303
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) encourages collaborative partnerships between banks, nonprofits, service providers, government agencies, housing developers and other stakeholders in responding to the financial, credit and community development needs of local markets. Many of these initiatives are vital to the health and sustainability of communities and are helping to catalyze long-term positive change for residents and businesses. Join federal regulators for a discussion on partnerships and innovative programs, and guidance on how many may qualify for positive CRA consideration.
Genevieve Chow, district community affairs officer, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, New York City, NY; Jeanne Milliken Bonds, MPA, regional community development manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte; and Victor Galloway, community affairs specialist, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Raleigh
Innovation and Responsiveness by Jeanne Milliken Bonds, Genny Chow, Victor Galloway
FDIC Affordable Mortgage Resources by Victor Galloway
2:00–3:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Annual Developers’ Workshop
Room 302
This intensive workshop outlines proposed changes to the 2020 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and explains how applications for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will be evaluated in 2020. Learn what you need to know to apply next year.
Chris Austin, director of rental investment, and Russ Griffin, senior construction specialist, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Annual Developers' Workshop by Chris Austin and Russ Griffin
The Ins and Outs of Tenant/Landlord Law
Room 304
This workshop will provide an overview of tenant/landlord law and highlight common issues from the perspectives of property management and renters. Whether you are a property manager or work in the human services sector, you’ll learn about important facets of the law that will help you be more effective in your housing-related work.
Peter Gilbert, attorney, Legal Aid of NC, Durham; and Rhian Mayhew, associate attorney, Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC, Raleigh
Durham NC Evictions and the Eviction Diversion Program by Peter Gilbert
NC Affordable Housing Conference by Rhian Mayhew
Innovative Construction Training and Local Job Creation
Room 301A
As contractors and builders retire, the affordable housing industry needs to collaborate to train, mentor and support new workers as they develop or take over local trade businesses. Learn about construction training and business support programs that can help nurture a strong workforce to meet the state’s ongoing affordable housing needs.
Tammie E. Hall, division director and assistant to the Secretary for HUB outreach, Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses, Department of Administration, Raleigh; JaLisha Richmond, loan officer, Thread Capital, Raleigh; Talitha Batts, business counselor, Small Business and Technology Development Center, NC State University, Raleigh
Historically Underutilized Businesses by Tammie E. Hall
SBTDC by Talitha Batts
An Introduction to Thread Capital by Jalisha Richmond
Health through Housing: North Carolina Impacts
Room 402
Decades of research have documented the powerful effects of housing stability and quality on our physical and mental health. This session explores the impacts of North Carolina housing programs on individual and community well-being, as well as the cost savings that can accrue to the broader health care systems by addressing housing conditions to influence individual health outcomes.
Cheryl Plourde, policy and research analyst, Michael Handley, manager of home ownership rehabilitation and compliance, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Donna Biederman, Dr.PH., associate clinical professor, Duke University School of Nursing
Home Ownership Programs
Room 301B
Following a brief overview of the NC Housing Finance Agency’s home ownership products and programs, you’ll learn about the new Closing Cost Grant Program, a program offered through Freddie Mac alongside the conventional NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ product, for low- to moderate-income home buyers.
Jane Cavanagh, training coordinator, and Bill Hobbs, lender liaison, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Rural Housing Resources
Room 303
Developing and managing affordable housing in rural communities across North Carolina comes with its own, distinct challenges. This workshop will focus on the resources and opportunities as well as the challenges that organizations face when engaging in housing work in rural communities.
Sarah Odio, project manager, development finance initiative, UNC School of Government, Chapel-Hill; Iris Payne, CDBG director, NC Department of Commerce, Raleigh; Cynthia Chapman, multifamily housing loan specialist, USDA, Raleigh
538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program by Cynthia Chapman
Rural Housing Resources by Sarah Odio
3:30—4:45 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Creative Strategies for Overcoming LIHTC Hurdles
Room 302
Every Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) deal is different, but the one certainty is that developers will face unexpected challenges along the way. Overcoming those challenges requires creativity, an open mind—and sometimes a little luck. Hear from a panel of LIHTC developers about how they kept their projects moving forward after unanticipated setbacks.
Darren Swanson, director of acquisitions, Red Stone Equity Partners, Charlotte; Liz Ward, VP multifamily development, The Housing Partnership, Charlotte; Dustin Mills, president, Taft-Mills Group, Greenville; Hollis Fitch, manager, Flatiron Partners, Charlotte
Hot Topics for Housing Credit Management
Room 303
Housing Credit property management is an everchanging field. Keep up at this session where you’ll learn about new IRS monitoring requirements, required lease addenda for tax credit and HOME, conversion of UPCS protocol to NSPIRE, updates to the Rental Compliance Reporting System (RCRS) and Income Averaging.
Susan Westbrook, manager of rental assets, Tanya Clark, team leader of asset management and compliance, and Sandy Harris, supervisor of rental subsidy administration and activities, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Utilizing Local Affordable Housing Bonds
Room 402
As property values and construction costs have increased in recent years, local governments have to become much more intentional about the creation and long-term preservation of affordable housing. One of the strongest tools available to local governments are affordable housing bonds. These require local support, which in turn requires communication, planning, designing programs and developing local partnerships to effectively utilize funds. Hear from housing experts from Greensboro and Asheville about their recent affordable housing bonds. The NC Housing Coalition will also provide an overview of affordable housing bonds in North Carolina.
Cynthia Blue, AICP, manager, housing services division of neighborhood development, City of Greensboro; Paul D'Angelo, community development program director, City of Asheville; Karen Lado, assistant director of strategy, City of Durham; and Pamela Atwood, director of housing policy, NC Housing Coalition, Raleigh
Utilizing Local Affordable Housing Bonds by Pamela Atwood, Cynthia Blue, Paul D'Angelo, Karen Lado
Bonds for Affordable Housing by Paul D'Angelo
Durham Housing Bond by Karen Lado
City of Greensboro Housing Bonds by Cynthia Blue
New Housing Services and Resources Through Healthy Opportunities
Room 301B
Discover how the state’s privatization of Medicaid will impact housing providers, housing support services and housing referral systems. This workshop will explore the new Medicaid Health Opportunities Pilots, 1115 Medicaid Waiver which includes new housing services, a new tenancy supports service definition and NCCARE 360 resource platform.
Erika Ferguson, director of healthy opportunities, NC Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh; Emily Carmody, LCSW, program director, NC Coalition to End Homelessness, Raleigh; and Abi Bussone, community engagement manager, NCCARE360, Raleigh
NCDHHS Healthy Opportunities by Erika Ferguson
Housing conference slides
Increasing Housing Stability by Donna Biederman, Emily Carmody, Mina Silberberg
Affordable Housing Toolkit for Local Leaders
Room 304
The phrase “affordable housing” means something different to everyone who hears it, which can create confusion in public discourse. The NC Housing Coalition’s new “Affordable Housing Toolkit” was developed to bring a shared understanding of housing affordability to North Carolina leaders and citizens. This session will explore this toolkit and cultivate discussion around its uses in local housing advocacy and decision-making.
Samuel Gunter, executive director, NC Housing Coalition, Raleigh; Beau Mills, executive director, NC Metropolitan Mayors Association, Raleigh; Warren Miller, president, Fountainworks, Raleigh
Metro Mayors Affordable Housing Initiative by Beau Mills and Warren Miller
Underwriter Q and A
Room 301A
Everything you always wanted to know about how the NC Housing Finance Agency underwrites a loan will be revealed when you have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the underwriting staff. Staff members will answer questions about the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™, the NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment and the NC Home Advantage Tax Credit as well as the Community Partners Loan Pool Program.
Amber Smith, loan underwriter II, Raj Patel-Howard, loan underwriter II, and Kim Hargrove, senior program compliance officer, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Tuesday, October 8
9:45–11:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
Funding Supportive Housing
Room 304
Learn about the various funding sources available for the construction or renovation of supportive housing, including projects such as homeless shelters, substance abuse treatment facilities, group homes for children and adults and independent apartments. Funding sources described will include the NC Housing Finance Agency’s Affordable Housing Program, CDBG, HOME and private foundations.
Margrit Bergholz, senior support housing development officer, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Warren Wooten, housing operations manager, City of Charlotte, Charlotte; and Walter Harrington, vice president, PNC Bank, Raleigh
Funding Supportive Housing in NC by Margrit Bergholz
Community Development Banking by Don Harrington
Supportive Housing Financing by Warren Wooten
The Power of the FHLBank Atlanta’s Products and Services
Room 402
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBA) has a suite of affordable housing finance and community lending products and services designed to connect its member financial institutions with business opportunities in their communities. Learn how the FHLBA member institutions can leverage the power of equity, the power to connect and the power of knowledge to further your business objectives.
Arthur L. Fleming, senior vice president and director of community investment services, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA; and Fred Dodson, COO and executive vice president, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Inc., Charlotte
Leveraging FHLBank Atlanta's Structured Partnerships by Arthur Fleming and Fred Dodson
Creative Ideas for Developing Housing Stock
Room 302
Come hear how the Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities initiative at NC State University College of Design partnered with the NC Coalition to End Homelessness on the “Micro Housing for Homeless and Disabled Veterans Project”. Learn about micro housing design approaches, successful case studies from around the country and how a North Carolina project, The Farm at Penny Lane in Chatham County, was developed. You’ll also learn how the micro housing concept can be replicated to serve any type of population.
Terry Allebaugh, community impact coordinator, NC Coalition to End Homelessness, Raleigh; Thomas Barrie, AIA, DPACSA, professor of architecture and director of affordable housing and sustainable communities initiative, NC State University College of Design; Thava Mahadevan, director of operations, UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health
Tiny Homes Village at the Farm at Penny Lane by Thava Mahadevan
Resources and Connections for Eviction Prevention
Room 301B
The role of eviction in perpetuating poverty has recently risen to national attention, largely due to Matthew Desmond’s book Evicted. Several North Carolina cities have ranked among those with the highest eviction filing rates in the nation. This session explores eviction prevention initiatives that are working to address this issue in North Carolina by connecting at-risk tenants to legal counsel and other resources.
Marty Wegbreit, director of litigation, Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Richmond, VA; Sarah D'Amato, staff attorney, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh; Erika Brandt, senior policy and research analyst, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Durham NC Evictions and the Eviction Diversion Program by Sarah D'Amato
City of Richmond Eviction Diversion Program by Marty Wegbreit
The State of “Aging in Community” in North Carolina
Room 303
By 2030, approximately 30% of North Carolina’s population will be over age 65. Not only will affordable housing for seniors be a growing issue, but health decline brought on by social isolation will be a concern. Housing models must be adjusted to include not only design, but also systems of community supports to maximize quality of life and minimize medical intervention costs. Hear the latest research on housing models and see a case study from Durham Congregations in Action, which implemented a HomeShare program to lower costs and improve community.
Anne Glass, Ph.D.,professor and program coordinator, School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Spencer Bradford, executive director, Durham Congregations in Action; Josh Burton, team leader of home ownership development, NC Housing Finance Agency
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Industry Update
Ballroom A
Sponsored by Hooten Construction
Emily Cadik is the executive director of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC), where she leads advocacy to support affordable rental housing financed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit). Prior to joining the AHTCC, she was senior director of public policy at Enterprise Community Partners, where she led policy and advocacy related to the Housing Credit and other affordable housing and community development issues. While at Enterprise, she served on the board of the AHTCC, chairing the legislative committee, co-chairing the marketing committee and serving on the executive committee since 2016. She earned a Master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
NC Affordable Housing Conference Industry Update by Emily Cadik