Wednesday, October 24
7:30–9:30 a.m.
Conference Registration
Continental Breakfast (Sponsored by Bernard Robinson & Company, L.L.P.)
Exhibitor Set-Up
9:30–10:30 a.m.
Welcome | Ballroom A
David Bennett, executive vice president, Centrant Community Capital, Raleigh
Scott Farmer, executive director, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Samuel Gunter, interim executive director, NC Housing Coalition
Keynote Session | Ballroom A
Sponsored by Enterprise & Bellwether Enterprise
Dr. Tiffany Manuel, vice president of knowledge, impact and strategy at Enterprise Community Partners, has worked to expand opportunity for low-income workers, families and communities through more than 25 years of experience in both private and nonprofit sectors, as well as government and academia. In her current role, Dr. Manuel leads Enterprise’s Opportunity 360 platform, the most comprehensive set of tools and resources for measuring opportunity in the United States. Dr. Manuel is an experienced social scientist, strategist and cross-sector leader committed to social impact, frequently writing and speaking on issues like poverty, inequality and social exclusion in relation to community development, social change and cross-sector partnerships.
10:30-10:45
Networking Break | Lenoir Side Corridor, downstairs
Sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch
10:45–12:00 | 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.
Derek Hammond, tax principal, Dauby O’Connor & Zaleski, LLC, Carmel, Ind.; and Brian Fishback, Red Stone Equity Partners, Charlotte
Understanding and Utilizing 4% Tax Credits
Room 302
When it comes to developing affordable housing, tax-exempt bonds and 4% tax credits remain an important, yet underutilized, resource. This panel will provide an overview of the 4% tax credit program and its associated financing structures, along with a case study discussion of a recently completed North Carolina acquisition and rehabilitation project.
Chris Austin, director of rental investment, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Darren Swanson, director of acquisitions, RedStone Equity Partners, Charlotte; Mary Nash Rusher, partner, McGuireWoods, Raleigh and Richard Angino, owner and managing member, Third Wave Housing, LLC., Winston-Salem
Strategies for Replacing Aging Housing Stock to Preserve Neighborhoods
Room 303
Affordability and quality of life threats to long-time residents have led to a significant demand for housing rehabilitation, repair and replacement in many older neighborhoods. By engaging residents, building trust and understanding market forces, it is possible to encourage new life for aging neighborhoods that preserving housing access for long-term residents and creating new affordable opportunities for others.
George Barrett, associate director, Marian C. Jackson Center for Saving and Making History, Chapel Hill; Warren Wooten, program manager, Neighborhood and Business Services, City of Charlotte; Dan Levine, director of business development and project management, Self-Help, Raleigh; Gene Brown, executive director, Community Housing Solutions, Raleigh
Hot Topics in Housing Credit Management
Room 304
This workshop will provide an overview of exciting new compliance topics including income averaging, new NC Housing Finance Agency requirements and updated guidance related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Uniform Physical Conditions Standards (UPCS). Targeting and Key program updates will also be discussed.
Susan Westbrook, manager of rental assets; Tanya Clark, rental assets and compliance team lead; and Sandy Harris, rental assets and compliance team lead, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Housing as a Social Determinant of Health
Room 301 B
The Social Determinants of Health (SDH) are the economic and social conditions that affect health outcomes and are the underlying contributing factors of health inequities. Learn from the NC Department of Health and Human Services about how social and economic factors such as unstable housing can directly impact heath and health care costs and explore the state’s strategies for addressing these social determinants.
Erika Ferguson, director, Healthy Opportunities, NC Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh
Financing Housing Solutions for People with Disabilities
Room 301 A
Get an overview of how the NC Housing Finance Agency finances housing for people with disabilities using the Housing Trust Fund. Learn about the scope of the need in North Carolina and the single-family and multi-family financing available for Agency partners including nonprofits, local government entities, public housing authorities and community action agencies.
Margrit Bergholz, senior supportive housing development officer; Mike Handley, manager of home ownership rehabilitation; and Charlotte Stewart, policy and research analyst, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
12:15–1:45 p.m.
Housing North Carolina Awards Luncheon | Ballroom B/C
Presented by the NC Housing Finance Agency
Lunch sponsored by CAHEC
The 29th annual Housing North Carolina Awards will celebrate the best affordable housing in the state. Don’t miss this chance for an in-depth look at housing that improves lives and strengthens communities.
2:00–3:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Supportive Housing: Who Needs it and Who Provides the Support?
Room 303
Staff from Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, one of seven statewide entities that manage publicly-funded behavioral health services with individuals with disabilities, will share their philosophy about the importance of supporting individuals where they choose to live. You’ll also learn about the types of supports and services they provide through partnerships with private agencies.
Malcom White, tenancy support coordinator, Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, Raleigh
Annual Developers’ Workshop
Room 302
This intensive workshop outlines proposed changes to the 2019 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and explains how applications for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will be evaluated in 2019. Learn what you need to know to apply next year.
Chris Austin, director of rental development; and Russ Griffin, senior construction specialist, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Innovation Series: The Greensboro Housing Hub
Room 301 B
The Greensboro Housing Hub opened its doors in March 2018. Designed as a one-stop shop for Greensboro’s housing needs, the Hub consists of many housing-focused nonprofits from across the continuum of need. Come hear from the executive directors of these organizations about the benefits and challenges of working together to address affordable housing needs efficiently and comprehensively.
Maria Hanlin, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro; Sofia Crisp, executive director, Housing Consultants Group, Greensboro; Bret Byerly, executive director, Greensboro Housing Coalition, Greensboro; and Gene Brown, executive director, Community Housing Solutions, Greensboro
Emerging Topics in Fair Housing Law
Room 304
Fair housing laws are designed to end housing discrimination and promote diverse, inclusive communities. Learn the latest, including recent initiatives and priorities from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Jeffrey Dillman and Jack Holtzman, co-directors, North Carolina Fair Housing Project, Raleigh
Using Data to Understand State and Local Housing Needs
Room 402
Explore resources from the NC Housing Finance Agency and the NC Housing Coalition that present housing and demographic data for each county, and discuss how this information may be used to understand local housing needs and market conditions to better target state and local housing investments.
Samuel Gunter, director of policy and advocacy, NC Housing Coalition, Raleigh; Erika Brandt, policy and research analyst; and Emila Sutton, policy and research team lead, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Aging in Community: Vital Strategies for Housing and Caretaking
Room 301 A
Communities are facing a rapid increase in the aging adult population. These individuals may encounter increased barriers to housing stability. Further, households of all ages may unexpectedly need to become caretakers for aging family and friends. Presenters will discuss the situation faced by low-income aging neighbors, how to evaluate and address housing to support stability and how to plan for and become an informed caretaker.
Mark Valletta, director of housing and home improvement, Resources for Seniors, Inc., Raleigh; Tina Miller, director, Area Agency on Aging, Hickory; and Nicole Clagett, executive director and co-founder, Guiding Lights, Raleigh
Networking Break | Lenoir Side Corridor, downstairs
Sponsored by BB&T
3:30—4:45 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Partnering for Greater Impact: Housing Counseling and Habitat for Humanity
Room 304
Affordable housing is most efficient when partnerships are forged among the many different types of organizations that address different needs. This session will explore one such partnership between the Housing Consultants Group and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro. Participants will learn how these organizations work together not only for collective impact, but also for sustainability.
Maria Hanlin, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro; and Sofia Crisp, executive director, Housing Consultants Group
State of the LIHTC Markets: Tax Credit Equity Panel
Room 302
From the passage of tax reform to the prospect of CRA reform, the LIHTC program faces more uncertainty and opportunity than perhaps at any other time during its 30-plus-year history. This panel of equity investors will discuss the impact of these challenges upon the tax credit markets and how developers and investors are responding and preparing when structuring affordable multifamily housing deals.
Robin Haddock, owner and managing member, RLH Development, LLC, Charlotte; Greg Mayo, vice president of acquisitions, CAHEC, Raleigh; Karen Przypyszny, managing director of special initiatives, National Equity Fund, Chicago; and Brian Flanagan, director of acquisitions, RBC Capital Markets Tax Credit Equity Group, Charlotte
Housing Solutions for Heroes: Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Room 301 B
Volunteers of America Carolinas provides useful resources for military veterans in North Carolina with their Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. This initiative strives to promote housing stability among very low-income veteran families. Learn the highlights of this “housing first” approach and how this program encourages veterans’ personal strengths while producing immediate results: housed veterans and their families.
Robin Henry, director, Volunteers of America Carolinas, Durham
Tenant/Landlord Law: Common Leasing Issues and How to Avoid Them
Room 402
This workshop will provide an overview of tenant/landlord law and will highlight common issues from the perspectives of property management and renters. Whether you are a property manager or you work in the human services sector, you are bound to learn important facets of tenant/landlord law that will help you be more effective in your housing-related work.
Pamela Vester, J.d. C.F.E., managing partner and financial auditor, The Vesper Group, LLC, Raleigh
Beyond Ribbon Cuttings: Mobilizing Residents for Advocacy
Room 301 A
Affordable housing advocates spend a lot of time inviting elected officials to ribbon cuttings or connecting them with practitioners to explain complicated financing and development tools. While these tools have proven effective, this session focuses on the increased impact of empowering and mobilizing residents of affordable housing to advocate for crucial housing programs. We will also explore the impact of resident organizing programs in California and Washington.
Yvette Holmes, vice president of resource development and partnerships, DHIC, Raleigh; and Chris Genese, senior organizer of the Housing Trust Fund project, Center for Community Change, Portland, OR
Energy Efficiency for All: Incorporating Efficiency in Multi-Family Affordable Housing
Room 303
High utility costs can quickly make an affordable home unaffordable. This session will explore new and existing ways to leverage energy efficient upgrades to finance affordable housing development.
Al Ripley, director of the Housing and Consumer Project, North Carolina Justice Center, Raleigh; and Dana Bartolomei, regional director of energy efficiency policy for the southeast, National Housing Trust, Washington, D.C.
5:00–6:00 p.m.
Networking Reception | Ballroom Lobby
Sponsored by Stratford Capital Group
Thursday, October 25
8:30–9:30 a.m.
NC Housing Coalition Breakfast | Ballroom B/C
Sponsored by AmeriHealth Caritas
9:45–11:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
Leveraging FHLBA Financing for Supportive Housing
Room 303
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBA) has a Structured Partnership Product (SPP), a unique arrangement where FHLBA engaged in a structured, short-term agreement with a local government or housing finance agency to provide equity funds exclusively to member financial institutions and their customers. The SPP is designed to help members achieve their lending business objectives and build stronger partnerships throughout their communities. Learn how the FHLBA has found success with SPPs and how it can work with you to provide real estate equity for home ownership. An announcement for a new grant program will be made and informational materials will be distributed at this session.
Jan Hadder, vice president and associate director of community investment services, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, GA
Tax Reform and its Effects on Affordable Housing
Room 302
This session will focus on the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the affordable housing industry. You will hear how tax reform is impacting LIHTC deals, including those not yet placed into service and how tax rates will impact the accounting for LIHTC investments. The session will also discuss tax depreciation and new average income minimum set aside rules, identify the fast-approaching decisions facing affordable housing professionals and raise practical ideas and strategies to enhance tax efficiencies.
Speaker: Joseph Wallace, Tax Partner, CohnReznick, Charlotte
Affordable Home Ownership Options
Room 304
Successful homeowners leverage information into stability. Combining affordable mortgage options form the NC Housing Finance Agency with education and community resources better empowers buyers to become long-time homeowners. Learn how these great money-saving opportunities can help your low- and moderate-income borrowers and get tips on how to successfully market these programs so you can reach more clients and close more deals.
Jane Cavanagh, training coordinator, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Connie Helmlinger, manager of public relations and marketing, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; and Ralphine Caldwell, senior vice president of programs, Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Charlotte
The Benefits of Mental Health First Aid and Property Management
Room 301 A
Have you ever dealt with a tenant who was emotionally distressed, and you didn’t know what to do? You are not alone. This workshop explores the benefits of “Mental Health First Aid,” an international training curriculum to teach individuals how to respond in a mental health emergency and offer support to someone who appears to be in emotional distress while professional help is being sought.
Stephanie Williams, MPA, housing manager, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh; James Osborn, LPA, LCAS, director of community education and outreach, Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, Raleigh
Partnerships, Innovation and Responsiveness with the Community Reinvestment Act
Room 402
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—which include support for rural broadband, workforce development, job training, affordable housing preservation, economic inclusion activities and investments in small businesses, schools and health care—are vital to the health and sustainability of communities and are helping to catalyze long-term positive change for local 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, officer of the Comptroller of the Currency, New York; 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
The Intersection Between Health and Housing
Room 301 B
National studies show that those without stable homes are sick more often, have more undiagnosed illnesses and are more likely to wind up seeking expensive care in emergency departments. Hospitals and health insurers are increasingly playing a role in the housing arena in an effort to control their health care costs. Learn more about the intersection between health and housing in North Carolina.
Brett Byerly, executive director, Greensboro Housing Coalition, Greensboro; Kathy Colville, director of healthy communities, Cone Health, Greensboro; and Stephen Sills, director of the center for housing community studies, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Networking Break | Lenoir Side Corridor, downstairs
Sponsored by RBC Capital Markets
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Industry Update
Ballroom A
David S. Gasson, vice president and director of communications at Boston Capital Corporation, is a frequent speaker on state and federal policy issues and has written on federal housing and tax policy in many publications. He is executive director of the Housing Advisory Group, serves on the board of directors for the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Alliance for Business Leadership and sits on the steering committee and the tax reform working group of the Affordable Rental Housing ACTION Campaign as well as the executive advisory council of WBUR. Gasson also directs Boston Capital’s philanthropic outreach through the Boston Capital Foundation and has served on the staffs of Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine.
Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies, is a frequent speaker at industry events on a wide array of housing and economic development issues and has dedicated his career to expanding housing opportunity in private, public and nonprofit sectors. He has worked in areas of housing development ranging from research and analysis management and even as a senior adviser in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Energy. Williams currently holds a Masters of Science in real estate development from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Princeton University.