Day 1 | September 30, 2025
7:30 am | Registration Opens
8:00–10:00 am | Continental Breakfast
10:00–11:00 am | Welcome and Keynote Address
Dr. Jenny Schuetz, Vice President of Infrastructure, Housing, Arnold Ventures, Houston
David Bennett, President, Centrant Community Capital, Raleigh
Samuel Gunter, Executive Director, NC Housing Coalition, Durham
Scott Farmer, Executive Director, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
11:15 am–12:15 pm | Housing North Carolina Awards Session
Join us for an inspiring and insightful conversation with the winners of the 2025 Housing NC Awards. This dynamic panel will feature representatives from four award-winning properties. Panelists will share the stories behind their developments, including key challenges they overcame, partnerships that made success possible and the lessons learned along the way. Attendees will gain firsthand insight into what sets these project apart during a moderated Q and A session, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with awardees and explore how these models of success can inform and inspire future housing efforts across North Carolina.
Madison Fisler Lewis (moderator), Manager of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Scott Farmer, Executive Director, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Keith Curtis, Project Coordinator, Housing Authority of the City of Goldsboro, Goldsboro; Elaina Gianfortone, Vice President of Asset Management, Harmony Housing Affordable Development, Wilmington; Kim Freeman, Executive Director, Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, Forest City; Kimberly Sanchez, Executive Director, Community Home Trust, Garner
12:30–1:45 pm | Networking Luncheon
Join us for a networking luncheon with your peers.
1:45–2:00 pm | Break
2:00–3:15 pm | Breakout Sessions
Annual Developers Workshop
This intensive workshop outlines proposed changes to the 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and explains how applications for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will be evaluated in 2026. Learn what you need to know to apply next year.
Tara Hall, Manager of Rental Development, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Tara Hall: 2025 Developers Workshop
Community Reinvestment Act for Community-Based Organizations
This session, designed for community-based organizations, will review the Community Reinvestment Act and discuss ways which community organizations can collaborate more effectively with banks. In this session, topics covered will include an overview of the CRA, understanding the impact of bank performance context, bank activities that qualify for CRA consideration and strategies to develop successful partnerships with banks.
Erika Bell, Community Development Regional Manager-Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte; Victor Galloway, Community Affairs Specialist, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Raleigh
Erika Bell: Community Reinvestment Act for Community-Based Organizations Collaboration
Victor Galloway: Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) for Community Organizations
Exploring Financing Options for Rural Home Buyers in North Carolina
Hear from the experts about the different financing options available to prospective home buyers and homeowners in rural North Carolina. Topics include products available for first-time home buyers, rehab assistance for homeowners and financing options for existing manufactured housing.
Rob Rusczak (moderator), Manager of Home Ownership Lending, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Kelley Woodley, Area Director, US Department of Agriculture, Asheboro; Shirlene Alexander, Area Director, US Department of Agriculture, Henderson; Larry Sampson, Area Director, US Department of Agriculture, Lumberton
Larry Sampson: USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Programs North Carolina
The State of Disaster Recovery in North Carolina
From hurricanes and flooding to wildfires and extreme heat, communities across North Carolina face increasing challenges and threats from disasters. During this session, attendees will learn more about ongoing recovery efforts and the collaborative work being done through state and federal disaster recovery programs. Additionally, this session will include updates and an overview of the current landscape of disaster recovery and relief in North Carolina as well as highlight the critical role of housing and development in this work.
Andrew Shoenig, Program Director, MDC, Durham; Maggie Battaglin, Single-Family Housing Director, Division of Community Revitalization, NC Department of Commerce, Durham; Emily Gangi, Chief Deputy, Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, Raleigh; Carmen Ybarra, Director of Organizational Systems & Engagement, Swannanoa Communities Together, Asheville
Philanthropy and Affordable Housing
As housing costs continue to rise and public resources remain limited or challenged by ongoing policy changes, philanthropy is playing an increasingly vital role in addressing the affordable housing crisis. This session will explore the different philanthropic efforts occurring across our state that support housing in holistic ways ranging from direct investment, cross-sector collaboration, policy and advocacy and capacity building. Attendees will walk away with a greater awareness of work happening across the state and a deeper understanding of how creative partnerships with philanthropic organizations both large and small could help fill funding gaps, support community work and scale effective housing solutions across North Carolina.
Alex Dadok, Community Development Consultant, Alex Dadok Consulting, Durham; Samuel Gunter, Executive Director, NC Housing Coalition, Durham; Kasey Ginsberg, Vice President & Chief of Staff, Golden LEAF Foundation, Raleigh
Alex Dadok: Philanthropy and Housing: Learnings and Leadership in North Carolina
Healing Spaces: Supportive Design for Affordable Housing
How can affordable housing do more than provide shelter—and instead become a foundation for healing, stability, and dignity? This breakout session will explore how supportive design elements can be thoughtfully integrated into affordable housing developments, creating comforting spaces that sustain residents facing challenges such as homelessness, substance use recovery or economic instability.
Josh Burton, Supportive Housing Construction Analyst, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh; Phil Kiester, Principal, Tise-Kiester Architects, Chapel Hill; Rebecca Morris, Partner, Tightlines Designs, Raleigh; Molly Painter, Manager, King’s Ridge Visionary, Raleigh
Josh Burton: Healing Spaces: Supportive Design for Affordable Housing
3:15–3:30 pm | Break
3:30–4:45 pm | Breakout Sessions
Hot Topics in Housing Credit Compliance
In this session, take a look at some of the emerging hot topics that are impacting compliance within the multifamily program funded by the NC Housing Finance Agency. Additionally, this session will take a look at the HOTMA and NSPIRE policies, the Agency’s implementation of these policies, trends and best practices.
Randa McCauley, Tanya Clark, Chelsea Isaksen, Team Leads, Rental Asset Management & Compliance, NC Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh
Randa McCauley: Hot Topics in Credit Compliance
Equity Update: State of the LIHTC Market
Join industry experts for a timely update on the LIHTC equity markets, exploring how current federal budget proposals and policy shifts are shaping investment trends and impacting the future of affordable multifamily housing development across the country.
Rachel Eberhard (moderator), Founder and Managing Principal, Apiary Community Consulting, Raleigh; Dana Boole, President and CEO, CAHEC, Raleigh; Brian Flanagan, Managing Director, Regional Director Southeast, RBC Community Investments, Charlotte; Lauren Henry, Director of Acquisitions, Red Stone Equity Partners, LLC, Charlotte
Serving Special Populations Through Supportive Housing
Supportive housing is a key initiative to serve North Carolina’s most vulnerable citizens, including those experiencing homelessness; people with mental, physical or developmental disabilities; and people with substance use disorders. Join this panel to learn about emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing through all stages of development from funding to completion.
Kerry Bashaw (moderator), Executive Director, Brick Capital CDC, Sanford; Beverly Casey, Housing Development Consultant, Open Door Community Center, Washington; Brian Buland, Associate Director of Special Projects, TROSA, Inc., Durham; Laura Wells, Executive Director, HOPE North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Kerry Bashaw: Supportive Housing Development in North Carolina
The Future of Fair Housing
In 2025, the landscape of fair housing in the United States is undergoing significant transformation due to recent federal policy changes. This session will provide an overview of these developments and changes, such as the changes to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) revisions to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule and new requirements. Experts will discuss how these policy shifts will affect enforcement and program implementation as well as strategies to navigate the rapidly evolving policy environment.
Lauren Brasil, Staff Attorney, UNC School of Law Clinical Programs, Chapel Hill; Hope Williams, Interim Project Director & Managing Attorney, Fair Housing Project, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Durham
Hope Williams: The Future of Fair Housing
Preventing Displacement and Protecting Affordability: How to Make Rental Preservation Deals Work
As affordability restrictions on thousands of rental homes financed with LIHTCs and other public funds near expiration, preserving these homes is critical to keep housing affordable and prevent the displacement of low-income residents and communities; yet it can be challenging for developers to secure adequate financing and ensure long-term operational sustainability. This interactive panel will bring together different perspectives from CDFIs, developers and state and local government to explore practitioner successes and challenges on preservation deals and discuss private, philanthropic and governmental funding sources that are helping bring preservation to the next level across North Carolina.
Lindsay Rosenfeld (moderator), Lead Policy & Research Analyst, NC Housing Finance Agency; Durham; Natalie Britt, Senior VP of Real Estate Development, DHIC, Raleigh; Michael Englehart, Housing Trust Fund Manager, City of Charlotte, Charlotte; Jonathan Cyrus, Director of Transitional Asset Management, CAHEC, Raleigh
Natalie Britt: About DHIC
Jonathan Cyrus: CAHEC
Michael Englehart: Charlotte’s Preservation Strategy & What We’ve Accomplished
Lindsay Rosenfeld: Preventing Displacement and Protecting Affordability: How to Make Rental Preservation Deals Work
5:00–6:00 pm | Networking Reception
Day 2 | October 1, 2025
7:30 am | Registration Opens
8:00–9:30 am | NC Housing Coalition Annual Breakfast
At the NC Housing Coalition’s Annual Breakfast, the Coalition will recognize outstanding housing advocates from the past year, preview one of its upcoming policy initiatives and host an interactive feedback session.
Ted Edwards, Board Chair, Samuel Gunter, Executive Director and Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, Director of Housing Policy, NC Housing Coalition, Durham
9:30–9:45 a.m. | Break
9:45–11:00 am | Breakout Sessions
Updates in Housing Counseling
This is the annual gathering for the NC Housing Coalition’s HUD Intermediary Network of Housing Counselors. We will discuss federal funding concerns, program updates and the future outlook for housing counseling. We’ll also share key updates on the HUD Intermediary Network. Throughout the session, you’ll have opportunities to ask questions and share your feedback on how we can continue to strengthen housing counseling across the state.
Stacie Darden, Deputy Director, Shatarra Williams, Housing Counseling Grant Manager, NC Housing Coalition, Durham; David Young, Director of Capacity Building, Housing Action Illinois, Chicago
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit 101
Gain a better understanding of the sometimes-complex world of the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC). Participants will learn about the program’s structure, key stakeholders, and compliance requirements. Ideal for professionals new to affordable housing or those seeking a refresher, this session offers essential insights into one of the nation’s most impactful affordable housing tools.
Chris Key, Partner, Rebecca Darling, Partner, Novogradac, Atlanta
Program Update: Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Funding Sources
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta will share information about its Affordable Housing Program, including the grant funds available for down-payment assistance and for development of multifamily and single-family affordable housing. Other FHLBank Atlanta initiatives and new programs that can be utilized to solve affordable housing issues in communities across North Carolina will also be discussed.
Joel Brockmann, Assistant Vice President, Multifamily Portfolio Manager, FHLBank Atlanta, Atlanta
Joel Brockmann: Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Funding Sources
The State of NC Land Trusts
The Community Land Trust Model (CLT) continues to emerge as a powerful tool for creating and preserving permanently affordable housing across the state. North Carolina is now home to more than eight different community land trusts. This session will offer an in-depth exploration of this model and how it works as well as insights into how these land trust organizations across the state are working within their communities and with each other to promote long-term housing stability and community ownership in rural and urban areas in North Carolina.
Kimberly Sanchez, Executive Director, Community Home Trust, Chapel Hill; Patrick Graham, CEO, WeBuild Concord, Concord; Ben Loomis, Board Chair, Watauga Community Housing Trust, Boone
Faith and Foundations: Unlocking Surplus Land for Housing
Explore how partnerships with religious organizations are transforming surplus land into affordable housing. Learn about emerging trends, real-world success stories and key lessons to navigate zoning, financing and community engagement. Discover new opportunities where mission meets development to address today’s housing challenges.
David Bennett (moderator), President, Centrant Community Capital, Raleigh; Joel Gilland, President and CEO, Wesley Community Development Corporation, Huntersville; Richard Reinhard, Principal, Niagara Consulting Group, Rockville, Maryland
Joel Gilland and Richard Reinhard: Faith & Foundations: Unlocking Surplus Land for Housing
11:00–11:15 a.m. | Break
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Industry Update
Sarah Brundage, President and CEO, National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL), Washington, D.C.; and Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, Director of Housing Policy, NC Housing Coalition, Durham