Friday, February 9, 2018
8:30 am-4:00 pm (8:00-8:30 am registration and coffee)
David Evans & Associates, 2100 SW River Parkway Portland, Oregon
HLA’s 2018 conference focused on the many ways that local, regional, and statewide housing policies are increasingly filling a void created by the continued decline in federal support for affordable housing. We explored regional approaches to housing planning and policy in three metropolitan/suburban areas, and challenges and solutions to provision of housing in rural areas and small towns. We reviewed financing options and cost improvements that offer alternatives to public subsidies for affordable housing and discussed emerging examples of local land use and regulatory tools. Finally, we highlighted HLA’s efforts to ensure that jurisdictions are adequately planning to meet local housing needs through Oregon’s Statewide Planning Goal 10. See below for links to materials that were presented at the conference.
Conference Schedule and Materials
8:30 am: Conference welcome, Jennifer Bragar, President, Housing Land Advocates
8:40 am: Keynote address: Fulfilling the Promise of Oregon’s Goal 10
Mary Kyle McCurdy, Deputy Director, 1000 Friends of Orego
9:15 am: Panel, Regional housing issues: Planning and policy lessons from three regions Policymakers are increasingly seeing a need for coordinated regional planning to address housing issues across counties and metropolitan areas. This panel brings together experts from three organizations that oversee housing planning and policy on a regional scale. Speakers will discuss issues and challenges related to the provision of housing in their respective regions, as well as strategies to meet regional housing needs and coordinate efforts across multiple jurisdictions.
- Tara Beard, Housing Policy Analyst, Metropolitan Council (Twin Cities metro region): Regional Housing Policy in the Twin Cities
- Emily Lieb, Equitable Housing Initiative Project Manager, Metro (Portland metro region): Materials coming soon.
- Mike Stanger, Housing Planner, ARCH (East King County): ARCH – A Regional Coalition for Housing
10:15 am: Break
10:35 am: Panel, Emerging regulatory issues and strategies Hot housing markets are spurring communities to search for new and more effective regulatory responses. This panel will explore a few emerging issues and strategies, including evaluating the costs and barriers attributable to development regulations, implementation of inclusionary zoning requirements and incentives, and enactment of broader zoning reforms aimed at increasing supply.
- Kim Armstrong, Senior Planner – Housing, Washington County: Equitable Housing Site Barriers and Solutions Project
- Tyler Bump, Senior Economic Planner, City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability: Inclusionary Housing and Comprehensive Plan Implementation Projects
- Dan Bertolet, Senior Researcher, Sightline Institute: How Added Regulatory Costs Sabotage Affordable Housing
11:35 am: Presentation of the 3rd Annual Ed Sullivan Award for Housing Advocacy
11:50 am: Lunch
12:50 pm: Panel, Housing challenges and solutions in small towns and rural areas Small towns and rural areas across Oregon and the US are struggling with a lack of affordable housing, aging housing stock, and housing supply that is not keeping up with increasing demand. Limited housing options and low turnover rates create a stagnant housing market, and the growth of low-wage service and agricultural jobs mean more people are competing for affordable options. This panel will explore emerging issues and strategies to increase the supply of housing in rural areas and small towns, including affordable housing.
- Kim Travis, Housing Integrator, Oregon Housing and Community Services
- Daniel Bullock, Housing and Facilities Program Manager, CASA Oregon
- Barry Beyeler, Community Development Director, City of Boardman, Oregon
- Moderator: Connor McDonnell, Housing Integrator, Oregon Housing & Community Services
1:50 pm: Oregon’s Goal 10: HLA’s search for meaningful findings, Jennifer Bragar, President, Housing Land Advocates. Jennifer presented a summary of HLA’s work with the Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO) to monitor housing-related plan amendments. For more information, see the links below:
- 2017 Year-End Report: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process
- Goal 10 Guidance Letter to Cities and Counties
2:20 pm: Break
2:40 pm: Panel, Alternatives to public subsidy: Financing options and cost improvements for affordable housing without the need for government assistance Financing affordable housing is difficult; public funds are often limited and extremely competitive, and many sources are being drastically reduced as federal budget priorities shift away from subsidies for affordable housing development. For housing advocates seeking an alternative to heavy reliance on public subsidy, this panel will focus on unique strategies that local housing developers and nonprofits have implemented to lower development costs and bring additional resources to the table.
- Rob Justus, Developer, Housing First
- Cameron Herrington, Anti-Displacement Coordinator, Living Cully
- Sean Hubert, Chief Housing and Employment Officer, Central City Concern: Housing is Health Collective Impact Initiative
3:40 pm: Closing remarks, Jennifer Bragar, President, Housing Land Advocates
Thank you to our sponsors:
