Agenda

Thursday, September 27, 2012

7:30 – 9:30 a.m.        

Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast

Exhibitor Set-up

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.      

Opening

Welcome          

Cindy Wiggins-Tiede, executive vice president, CICCAR
Bob Kucab, executive director, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh

Update: New Loan Programs from the Federal Home Loan Bank          

Arthur L. Fleming, senior vice president and director, Community Investment Services, Federal Home Loan Bank, Atlanta, GA

Keynote Address: Home & Healthy for Good           

Joe Finn, executive director, Massachusetts Housing Shelter Alliance, Boston, MA

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.    

Coffee/Snack/Phone Break

10:45 a.m. – Noon     

Tax Credits 101

A successful Housing Credit apartment development depends on the allocating agency, the developer, the lender and the investor. This session will clarify their roles, analyze a typical tax credit transaction and explain the reservation process and tax credit period. 

Brad Elphick, CPA, partner, Novogradac & Company, LLP, Alpharetta, GA

Fair Housing and Zoning/Land Use Issues
Find out how fair housing laws can be used to ensure that zoning and land use practices do not include discriminatory restrictions that limit housing opportunities. This session will also cover what obligations local governments and CDGB recipients have to promote and uphold fair housing laws.

Jack Holtzman, director, N.C. Fair Housing Project, Raleigh; Richard Boulden, Agency Counsel for NC Human Relations Commission

Federal Home Loan Bank Products/Programs

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta provides a range of community development programs. This session will provide an overview of these programs, including the new affordable housing set-aside products for veterans.

Arthur L. Fleming, senior vice president and director, Community Investment Services, Federal Home Loan Bank, Atlanta, GA

Bringing New Life to Older Neighborhoods

Discover strategies for improving existing communities that start with housing fixes, ranging from a coat of paint to gut rehabilitation, and end with changing the vision for a neighborhood by engaging partners and addressing community needs, such as a grocery store, afterschool care or more security. You’ll learn about tools for specific issues, including lead-based paint, historic properties and energy efficiency, and how to unite community stakeholders. The session will highlight an upcoming Purpose Built Communities project in the Cottage Grove Community of Greensboro.

Elizabeth Benton, construction advisor, planning and community development, City of Greensboro; Gene Brown, president and executive director, Housing Greensboro, Greensboro; and Daniel Miller, associate professor of leadership studies, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro

The Evolution of Housing for People with Disabilities

This workshop will show the historical development of affordable housing, including for people with disabilities, and how our state and federal housing policies have interacted, against a background of significant social changes. As communities learn what resources are currently available, how those resources are best used and which ones have disappeared over the years, they can be more strategic in garnering new funds needed to meet their affordable and supportive housing needs.

Martha Are, housing and homeless programs unit manager, Division of Aging and Adult Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh

Housing Counselors: What’s New in Foreclosure Prevention?

How will the landmark Attorneys General settlement affect housing counseling resources in North Carolina? This session will discuss how that money will be used to support foreclosure prevention counseling services. In addition, you’ll learn the latest information on other foreclosure prevention resources, including the N.C. Foreclosure Prevention Fund™ and the State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project.   

Mary Holder, Rich Lee, and Keir Morton-Manley, foreclosure prevention team leaders, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh

12:15 – 2:00 p.m.      

2012 Housing North Carolina Awards Luncheon

The Housing North Carolina Awards recognize the state’s most outstanding new rental, home ownership and supportive housing developments.

2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

Annual Developers Workshop

This intensive workshop outlines proposed changes to the 2013 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and explains how applications for federal and state tax credits to develop affordable apartments will be evaluated in 2013.

Rental staff, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh 

Property Tax Valuation of Affordable Housing

This session will compare the approaches to setting the value of affordable housing projects for property tax assessment purposes and examine the statutory and case law framework for valuations in North Carolina. Topics include an overview of the state’s property tax appeals process, including a case study of a recent appeal.

Todd Brockmann, Esq., The Brockmann Law Firm, Charlotte, and Lee Van De Carr, Jr., Esq., Raleigh 

Mold and Mildew: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Property

Mold and mildew have become a major problem for multifamily properties, particularly as units are built more tightly.  Since these issues are not covered by insurance, it is critical for property developers and owners to understand how to avoid mold and mildew and what their responsibilities are if they occur.

Frankie Pendergraph, president, the Pendergraph Companies, Raleigh

Including Economic Development in Your Housing Strategy

Discover how some housing developers are supporting economic development in their communities through job training, business creation and commercial development.  Speakers will discuss lessons learned from their successes and failures and make recommendations for how to support economic development as part of your housing strategy.

Carl Manning, executive director, Kingdom CDC, Fayetteville; Darbah Skaf, vice president and COO, Iredell-Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation, Statesville; and Jeff Stern, director of special projects, TROSA, Inc., Durham

University-Community Partnerships that Improve Affordable Housing Design

Speakers will share examples of effective university-community partnerships that have led to innovative affordable housing design, including projects developed by the Architecture in the Public Interest Initiative of the College of Design at N.C. State University. Learn how these partnerships can provide cost-effective “seed research” and design concepts for affordable housing developments.

Thomas Barrie, AIA, professor of architecture, and Georgia Bizios, FAIA, professor of architecture and director, Home Environments Design Initiative, N.C. State University

Reviewing 10-Year Plans to End Homelessness

Two North Carolina communities will share their experiences trying to eliminate homelessness in 10 years.  Learn about what worked, what didn’t and why. You’ll have the opportunity to share your experiences and progress in your own community, and hear recommendations for addressing challenges. 

Brian Alexander, director, Homeward Bound, Asheville; Andrea Kurtz, JD, senior director of housing strategies, Winston-Salem United Way, Winston-Salem; and Tim West, program supervisor, community and business development department, City of Winston-Salem

Housing Counselors: Building Relationships with Local Lenders

A panel of mortgage providers will discuss changes in the lending environment and offer suggestions on how housing counselors can work with local lenders to help their first-time home buyers. Hear examples of lender-counseling agency partnerships that work, and learn more about the N.C. Housing Finance Agency’s FirstHome Mortgage.

Speakers to be announced

3:30 – 3:45 p.m.        

Coffee/Snack/Phone Break

3:45 – 5:00 p.m.        

Green Construction in Charlotte – A Case Study

The Charlotte Housing Authority is renovating its low-income, high-rise developments to achieve LEED Gold certification.  This session will cover the planning, modeling, design and commissioning process for these renovations and will discuss best practices and lessons learned.

Matthew Pesce, principal, and Jennifer Fairchild, senior consultant, Facility Strategies Group, Fort Hill, SC; and J. Wesley Daniels, senior development officer, Charlotte Housing Authority, Charlotte

What Is New in the World of Compliance Monitoring?

Prepare for your next monitoring review by attending this session to explore the items examined during a physical inspection or tenant file review. You’ll learn the most common areas of noncompliance and how to avoid having a finding for your rental property. Speakers will also discuss efforts to streamline the monitoring completed by multiple agencies. 

Compliance staff, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, Raleigh

Grassroots Advocacy 101

With housing funding in jeopardy at all levels of government, housing resources must be defended.  Learn from experts about how political decisions are made and how to build relationships with policymakers.  Also gain skills to maximize the attention and support your organization receives through effective grassroots advocacy, and learn strategies for effective resident empowerment and mobilization.

Speakers to be announced

Partnering with Your Local Habitat to Improve Your Community

Despite today’s economic challenges, North Carolina Habitat for Humanity affiliates have continued to be active builders, adding affordable housing stock in both rural and urban markets. This session will give specific examples of how local governments and nonprofits can partner with their local Habitat affiliates to further community development goals, even during a funding and construction slowdown.                                                                                    

Speakers to be announced

HEARTH and Medicaid/Medicare Changes: How Will People with Special Needs Fare?

Industry experts will give up-to-the-minute updates about new regulations changing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants under the federal HEARTH program and how they will impact North Carolina. The session will also cover how budgetary cuts and policy changes in Medicare and Medicaid will impact housing and services for persons with disabilities.

Tara Larson, chief clinical operations officer, Division of Medical Assistance, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, and Denise Neunaber, executive director, N.C. Coalition to End Homelessness, Raleigh

Collaborative Design: Using Community Input to Produce a Better Project

Incorporating the desires and needs of the surrounding community not only creates support but can also lead to a better design and more successful project. Come hear how soliciting feedback from neighborhood activists, government officials, environmentalists, police officers and many others helped positively shape the design for the Balsawood Community in Spring Lake, NC, and how you can apply this methodology to your project.

Carl Manning, director, Kingdom CDC, Fayetteville; David Maurer, AIA, principal, TightLines Designs, Raleigh; and Kimberly J. Siran, RLA, LEED AP, principal, Coaly Design, Raleigh

Housing Counselors: Harness the Power of “One”

The power of “one” refers to your internal power to make one decision, to take one step and to change one life at a time. This interactive seminar explores the impact that housing counselors have on their clients and community, and the pride that can be taken in that work. 

Karen Jenkins, adjunct professor, Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, and CEO, KJR Consulting, LLC, Columbia, SC

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.        

Networking Reception

Dinner on Your Own

Friday, September 28, 2012

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.        

Registration and Continental Breakfast

7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

The Association of Housing Counselors Annual Membership Meeting

Breakfast buffet outside upstairs ballrooms.

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.      

Industry Update: Legislative Impacts and Election Predictions

Join National Housing Conference President Chris Estes, N.C. Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Bob Kucab, and NC Housing Coalition Policy and Outreach Director Carley Ruff for an overview of what happened in the 2012 state and federal legislative sessions and how it will impact affordable housing, your business and your clients.

Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, will offer his analysis of the upcoming elections, giving you a glimpse of what the General Assembly, Congress and White House Administration might look like in 2013.

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.    

Coffee/Snack/Phone Break

10:45 a.m. – Noon     

Title Insurance: What You Need to Know

Learn the basics of title insurance and participate in a discussion of issues and aspects of title insurance applicable to affordable housing in North Carolina.

Todd Brockmann, Esq., The Brockmann Law Office, Charlotte, and Ed Urban, Urban Title Company, Inc., Charlotte

Community Development & CRA Credit

The financial services landscape has changed dramatically since the CRA was last overhauled in the mid-90s. This session will alert you to the latest changes and share innovative methods your bank can use to receive CRA credit and improve its rating. 

Vonda Eanes, district community affairs officer, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the U.S. Treasury, Washington, DC; Tammie C. Hoy, regional community development manager, The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte; and John Meeks, community affairs specialist, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Raleigh

LIHTC Properties: Are You Ready for Year 15?

For most Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) partnerships, Year 15 planning begins before the project is even placed in service. As projects near Year 15, all the parties need to review the agreements and weigh their options. Find out what issues you can expect to encounter, how to prepare as Year 15 draws closer and what exit strategies are available, such as selling the property and re-syndication.

George Carr, developer, Beacon Management Corporation, Greensboro; Jeff Carroll, president, Allen & Associates Consulting, Charlotte; and Deborah McKenney, attorney, Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, Winston-Salem

Incorporate Universal Design Without Breaking the Bank

This session will cover techniques for incorporating universal design in housing units without breaking the bank. You will compare the perceived costs of universal home features with true cost ranges and learn about cost-saving repeatable adaptable features and products for multifamily housing.

Richard Duncan, MRP, executive director, RL Mace Universal Design Institute, Chapel Hill

Communication Messages and Tools that Work for Affordable Housing

Communicating the value and impact of affordable housing can sometimes get lost in statistics, policy details and acronyms.  Join two experts from Oregon to discuss new communication tools that will help enhance understanding of your work. You’ll also leave with messages that have tested well across the country about the importance of a place to call home, and new insights into how people process information.

Janet Byrd, executive director, and Alison McIntosh, policy and communications director, Neighborhood Partnerships, OR

Housing Counselors: Staying Motivated

Do you feel overworked, underappreciated and underpaid? In today’s new normal of doing more with less, these feelings are shared by employees in every industry. So how do you remain motivated? This session will give you some excellent tips to help you stay sharp, increase your intensity and grow your passion. 

Kenny Smith, executive director, Grace-Mar Services, Inc., and producer of the cable access show on nonprofit resources, “What's New in the Neighborhood,” Charlotte

12:15 – 2:00 p.m.      

N.C. Housing Coalition Annual Awards Luncheon

The N.C. Housing Coalition will present its 2012 Volunteer of the Year, Public Official of the Year and Professional of the Year Awards.

2:00 p.m.        

Conference Adjourns