Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Opening Plenary – 11:30 A.M.
Marietta Rodriguez, President and Chief Executive Officer
NeighborWorks America: Working Together for Strong Communities
Breakout Sessions
Wednesday, 1:30PM
Diversity in Home Ownership
Session Description: The stagnant and declining minority home ownership numbers are clear, and experts have varying views regarding why this situation is occurring. Featured panelists (mortgage lenders, realtors) will discuss why it’s important to reverse this downward trend, share successful initiatives serving minority populations and outline an ambitious agenda on ways to increase minority home ownership throughout the State of Tennessee.
Speakers: Miguel Vega, Chief Diversity Officer, First Community Mortgage; Marshall Crawford, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of The Housing Fund; Daryl Lewis, Interim President for the National Assoc. of Real Estate Brokers – United Developers Council (Memphis Chapter).
PHA Repositioning
Session Description: HUD changed the public housing landscape through RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) programs. Now public housing agencies are adjusting their short and long term redevelopment plans – focusing on how to best serve low-income residents under different HUD oversight and funding. Join us for a discussion about what financing tools, capital markets and public/private partnerships are necessary to help Public Housing Authorities better re-position themselves for the future.
Speakers: Eileen Neely, Director of Loan Fund, Housing Assistance Council
The Intersection of Housing and Economic Development
Session Description: A conversation about the challenges of attracting industry and matching the need for housing in Tennessee. Join THDA, USDA Rural Development and Tennessee Economic & Community Development for a discussion on how to try something new in your community.
Speakers: Don Harris, Housing Program Driector, USDA Rural Develoment, TN State office; Brooxie Carlton, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Rural and Community Development, TN Department of Economic and Community Development; Rusty Smith, Associate Director of Rural Studio, Auburn University
Wednesday, 3:15PM
Get Ready for GC97 – Freddie Mac HFA Advantage
Session Description: Join Freddie Mac and THDA as they launch the newest lending initiative in the suite of Great Choice products. Receive valuable information for a new affordable conventional mortgage loan product to serve low to moderate income Tennesseans.
Speaker: Sam Noel, Lender Engagement Manager, HFA Engagement Team, Freddie Mac; Darrell Robertson, Assistant Director of Industry and Government Affairs, THDA
Home is Where the Heartland Is: Overcoming the Challenges of Developing Affordable Housing in Rural Areas
Session Description: According to the American Community Survey, nearly a quarter of the nation’s most rural counties have seen a “sizable increase” in the percentage of residents spending more than half their income on housing, a scenario the federal government calls “severely cost-burdened.” Rural communities face unique challenges when dealing with the affordable housing crisis, which often including higher construction costs, resource availability and at times even cultural objections to development of multi-family projects in areas where single family homes dominate. This panel of subject matter experts will explore the critical intersection of economic development and the need for innovative affordable housing strategies in some of our most rural communities.
Speakers: Don Alexander, Partner, A & H Development; Nick Mitchell-Bennett, Executive Director, cdcb-come dream, come build
Restoration and Rejuvenation of Four Walls
Session Description: Come and learn how to administer the innovative repair programs offered by THDA and FHLB Cincinnati. These programs will help Tennessee families preserve and maintain their homes.
Speakers: Don Watt, Chief Program Officer, THDA; Cynthia Peraza, Director of Community Programs, THDA; Damon Allen, Sr. Vice President, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; Dwayne Spencer, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis; Matria Catron, Executive Director, Oak Ridge Housing Authority
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Breakfast Plenary – 8 A.M. (breakfast buffet opens at 7 A.M.)
Meeting the Housing Challenges of Rural America
Our breakfast panel will discuss addressing the housing challenges of rural Tennessee. Joining Executive Director Ralph Perrey will be two nationally recognized leaders whose organizations work in some of the neediest regions of the country, Central Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta.
Panel: Phil Eide, Senior V.P. Housing and Community Development, Hope Enterprise Corporation; Jim King, CEO & President, Fahe; Ralph Perrey, Executive Director, THDA
Thursday, 10:45AM
Going Green to Save Green – Residential Energy Efficiency Programs, Resources and Education
Session Description: Learn how TVA, THDA and community partners are helping low-income families save big on energy costs. Become informed on what programs are available across the state and hear about the dramatic impacts. Look ahead to future programs and see how you can better become involved.
Speakers: Frank Rapley, Senior Manager, TVA’s EnergyRight; Blake Worthington, Housing Program Manager, THDA
CITC in Tennessee – How to Make CITC Work for You
Session Description: The Community Investment Tax Credit Program provides a tax credit to financial institutions for making low interest rate loans to eligible housing entities for engaging in eligible affordable housing activities. Learn how financial institutions and eligible housing entities have successfully utilized the Community Investment Tax Credit Program to create and preserve affordable rental and home ownership housing opportunities for Tennesseans all across the state.
Speakers: Stephen Dixon, Sr. Vice President of Community Development, Bank of TN; Don Alexander, Partner with A & H Development; Toni Shaw, Housing Program Manager, THDA
Financial Empowerment in Rural Tennessee
Session Description: Lifting families out of poverty, whether urban or rural, is a monumental challenge often confronted by those in the housing realm. Join Rural LISC, along with in-state partners from Clinch-Powell and Kingsport Housing, as they discuss the difficulties and solutions towards financial empowerment across rural Tennessee.
Speakers: Christy McMakin, Empowerment and Career Specialist Coach, Fresh Start Foundation Financial Opportunity Center; Sabrina Seamon, Deputy Executive Director of Clinch-Powell RC&D Council; Emily Avery, Senior Program Officer with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Rural)
Multifamily Hot Topics
Session Description: Industry professionals offer solutions to current Housing Credit challenges, including development siting issues, construction material and labor challenges, increased demand for resources, and Year 15 strategies.
Speakers: Brian Coffee, Manager with Regions Affordable Housing Dept.; Brandon Hughey, partner Jones Walker; Thomas Simons, Senior Vice President for Woda Cooper Companies; Amy Broadwater
HBEI Seminar – March 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Being Green, Seeing Green: Counseling Clients to Maximize Energy Savings (HO290)
JoAnn DePenning, Instructor
Session Description: Counselors, play a key role in training your clients to maximize savings, lower expenses and live in a safe, healthy home. Being “green” is not only a trend — it’s one way consumers can better manage their finances and maintain secure homeownership.
In this course you will learn:
- How a $25 investment in energy-savings related items can save your clients hundreds each year
- Resources and contact information for state and local weatherization programs and how to advise clients to choose a “certified” energy auditor
- Tip sheets for spotting household energy “hogs” and moisture and mold problems, and how to identify a remedy
- Financing options such as the FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM), as well as state and other financing programs that may be available to help pay for improvements at the time of purchase or refinance
- “Energy Star” appliances — what they are and whether they qualify for the $1500 tax incentive
