2008 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference

Agenda

8:00 am-9:00 am

Registration

Outside Exhibition Hall

9:00 am-10:30 am

Opening plenary session/keynote

Exhibition Hall

10:30 am-10:45 am

Break

10:45 am-12:00 pm

Housing 101 (Part I)

Ampitheater

The basics of affordable housing development in Vermont, including discussions on how our housing delivery system works. Panelists: Erhard Mahnke, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition; Mike McNamara, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; Cynthia Reid, Vermont Housing Finance Agency; Bruce Whitney, Rockingham Area Community Land Trust

Homelessness: Supportive Housing

Diamond Ballroom I

Presentations on three supportive housing programs in Vermont and discussion of the challenges to providing supportive housing. Panelists: Christine Hart, Brattleboro Housing Authority; Paul Mascitti, Good Samaritan Haven; Linda A. Ryan, Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness

Green Building

Emerald Ballroom II

A conversation about how to develop single-family housing that is both affordable and energy-efficient. Workshop eligible for 1.25 hours of AICP credit. Panelists: Andrew Cay, Integrated Solar Applications Corp.; Rick DeAngelis, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board; Ward A. Smyth, Turtle Creek Builders Ltd.

Federal Housing Policy

Emerald Ballroom III

January, 2009, brings a new Congress and a new President. We will discuss what that means for national housing policy and its likely impact in Vermont. Workshop eligible for 1.25 hours of AICP credit. Panelists: John Fairbanks, Vermont Housing Finance Agency; Aaron Gornstein, Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA); Mindy LaBranche, National Council of State Housing Agencies; Douglas Rice, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Garth Rieman, National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA)

Planning/Zoning: Regulations

Emerald Ballroom I

An in-depth look at Vermont's regulatory process, of the experiences of developers going through the process, and the new Vermont Neighborhoods program. Workshop eligible for 1.25 hours of AICP credit. Panelists: Joss Besse, Vermont Department of Housing & Community Affairs; Kathy Beyer, Housing Vermont; Catherine Dimitruk, Northwest Regional Planning Commission; Donald Hayes, Vermont Law School

Responsible Borrowing and Lending

Diamond Ballroom II

How are we responding to the dramatic changes in credit markets and need for financing? How can consumers become better-educated about mortgages? Panelists: Ludy Biddle, NeighborWorks of Western Vermont; Thomas Candon, Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration; Sue Clark, Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration; Liz Curry, Champlain Housing Trust; Dana Kozak, U.S. Bank

12:00 pm-1:15 pm

Lunch/awards

Exhibition Hall

1:15 pm-2:30 pm

Housing 101 (Part II)

Ampitheater

The basics of affordable housing development in Vermont, including discussions on how our housing delivery system works. Panelists: Josh Hanford, Vermont Department of Housing & Community Affairs; Polly Nichol, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board; Kenn Sassorossi, Housing Vermont

Homelessness: Myths of Poverty

Diamond Ballroom I

An eye-opening look at the lives of Vermonters living in poverty and discussion of some of the common myths about being poor. Panelists: Shirley Allen, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Anne Buley, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Marcy Dedam, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Betsy Ferries, Mercy Connections; Reanna Huestis, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Stephanie Juaire, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Jackie Konkol, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Beth Krueger, Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS); Mary Mitchell, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Dale Niles, Video Voices/Mercy Connections; Natalie Sinkew, Video Voices/Mercy Connections

Costs of Development

Emerald Ballroom II

An analysis of the various components that contribute to the high cost of building new housing. Panelists: Ariane Kissam, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board; Joe Sinagra, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont; Chris Snyder, The Snyder Companies

State Housing Policy

Emerald Ballroom III

Vermont saw new housing legislation enacted in 2008. What effect will that have on the current housing market and efforts to develop more affordable housing? What policy challenges lie ahead? Panelists: Karen Horn, Vermont League of Cities and Towns; Erhard Mahnke, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition; Jim Saudade, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development; John Shullenberger, Sirotkin and Necrason

Planning/Zoning: Moving from Density to Design

Emerald Ballroom I

How can we design high-density residential projects so they integrate smoothly into existing neighborhoods? We'll talk about design principles to make higher density housing work within already-developed areas. Workshop eligible for 1.25 hours of AICP credit. Panelists: Susan Coddaire, studio b architecture; James Drummond, Black River Design Architects; Emily Higgins, Champlain Housing Trust; Jim Mullen, Town of Rockingham/Village of Bellows Falls; Jason Van Driesche, Smart Growth Vermont

Building Local Support for Housing Development

Diamond Ballroom II

Housing does not get created if a community doesn't support it. Presentations by people from several Vermont towns on how they created that essential support. Panelists: Todd Bailey, Vermont League of Conservation Voters; Dona Bate, dbate speaking; Greg Brown, Dummerston Housing Advisory Committee; Kellie Stoll, Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee

2:30 pm-2:45 pm

Break

2:45 pm-4:00 pm

The Economy and Housing

Ampitheater

How economic factors bear on the housing market and on our ability to create housing affordable to average Vermonters. Panelists: Clay Adams, RSG Inc.; John Fairbanks, Vermont Housing Finance Agency; Doug Hoffer; James McIntyre, Morgan Stanley

Homelessness: Fundraising

Diamond Ballroom I

With resources stretched further each year, it is important for people working to alleviate homelessness to discuss strategies for raising needed funds. Panelists: Marion Classen, Northeast Kingdom Youth Services; Tom Ketteridge, Upper Valley Haven; Beth Krueger, Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS)

Cottage Development

Emerald Ballroom II

A discussion of housing trends that fuel demand for smaller homes and how communities and developers can address that demand. Workshop eligible for 1.25 hours of AICP credit. Panelists: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Vermont Housing Finance Agency; Anne Duncan Cooley, Upper Valley Housing Coalition; Lori Hirshfield, Town of Hartford; Daniel Johnson, Watershed Studio Architecture

Market Analysis

Emerald Ballroom III

A discussion of the components of a good market study and why analysis is important. Panelists: Michael Crane, Crane Associates Inc.; Kurt Kaffenberger, O'Brien & Kaffenberger Inc.

Planning/Zoning: Getting Communities Housing-Ready

Emerald Ballroom I

A presentation on the important considerations for community infrastructure necessary for housing development. Workshop eligible for 1.25 hours of AICP credit. Panelists: Juli Beth Hinds, VHB Pioneer; Cynthia Reid, Vermont Housing Finance Agency; Amy Wright, Cathedral Square Corp.

Consumer Concerns

Diamond Ballroom II

We will consider two of the many issues Vermonters face in terms of housing: fair housing and energy costs. Panelists: Robert Appel, Vermont Human Rights Commission; Hal Cohen, Central Vermont Community Action Council; Liza Plantilla, Vermont Green Building Network