We are thrilled to announce the return of the Annual Meeting & Housing Expo! HAND is headed back to the Omni Shoreham on June 5, 2025 for a full day of connection and celebration. We’re thrilled to bring back the Housing Expo, where members can learn about each others’ organizations and strengthen the connections that are essential to building a more equitable region.

In addition to the expo, the 34th Annual Meeting & Housing Expo will feature a policy-driven plenary session, and we’ll honor the Housing Achievement Award Winners, the GenerationHAND Scholarship Recipient, and the Children’s Essay Contest Winner.

Be sure to look out for announcements in the spring regarding award applications and nomination deadlines. In the meantime, we invite you to add the 34th Annual Meeting & Housing Expo to your calendars, as we wouldn’t want you to miss out on this incredible opportunity to recognize your peers’ outstanding achievements and cultivate partnerships with industry leaders. We can’t wait to see you there!

Join HAND at the January Equity Roundtable hosted by Loudoun County’s Department of Planning and Zoning, where we’ll present on the Housing Indicator Tool (HIT). At this gathering, we dive into an analysis of housing trends within the District and Loudoun County’s progress on production and preservation of affordable housing. 

The HIT serves as a platform to show progress at both jurisdiction and regional levels, placing income and racial inequity at the center of the housing conversation. This tool is not just a storehouse of data; it is designed to empower stakeholders like you to monitor housing production across local jurisdictions and pinpoint the challenges that hinder the development of equitable communities. We believe that together, armed with the insights that the HIT provides, we can pave the way for meaningful progress in our collective quest for housing equity. If you’re interested in having a HIT demonstration tailored to your jurisdiction or organization, please contact Steven at spalmer@handhousing.org.

Featured Speakers

Courtney Battle Executive Director  HAND	Steven Palmer Director of Public Policy HAND

Registration Details: This session is only open to Loudoun County’s Department of Planning and Zoning’s staff.

HAND is excited to kick off the fourth year of the GenerationHAND Mentorship Program. The mentorship program is a year-long journey where HAND members can focus on personal and professional development while building connections with and learning from like-minded industry professionals. A mentor is not only someone who can help you grow your network and advance your career, but also someone who can be a sounding board for ideas, a collaborator on solutions and most importantly – a source of encouragement and inspiration. Here at HAND, we emphasize the importance of relationships. Our members’ shared mission to build and sustain more equitable communities is not an easy goal, and it is not one that can be accomplished alone. The GenerationHAND Mentorship program is one more tool in your toolbox to help get one step closer to your goals. Join HAND on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 to kick-off this year’s mentor-mentee pairings.

Who can attend: HAND members who have completed the mentorship application on or before December 20, 2024.

Registration Details: This event is free and only available to current HAND members who have completed the mentorship application.

Incorporating a full range of voices early – from project conception to well past completion – is key to a successful development project. Learn real-life engagement strategies and tactics to succeed at all stages of the development process and how to avoid potential pitfalls. This webinar will tackle how the time of day, location, and so much more can affect community engagement. Practitioners will learn how well-planned engagement can reduce project costs and build positive, long-lasting community relationships. We’ll also explore how open dialogue and engagement can strengthen resident services programs after project completion. 

Industry Practitioners

Paul Bernard President & CEO AHC Moderator	Tierra Faggins  Vice President  Affordable Rental Portfolio Cornerstones	Sunshine Mathon  Executive Director Piedmont Housing Alliance	Mariah Williams, MURP Strategic Housing Manager Virginia Housing	Maura Williams, MA Executive Vice President Housing and Community Programs Cornerstones

Registration Details: This event is free to current HAND Members; Non-Member Fee: $75.

WATCH RECORDING

This finale brings to a close the LEAD Racial Equity Institute – a 10-month cohort program for HAND members who want to deepen their racial equity journey. The cohort comprises organizations working across Virginia, Maryland, and DC, including affordable housing providers, service providers, and government entities. This initiative focuses on equipping these organizations with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively develop and implement plans that foster racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI) within their operations and the communities they serve.

At the finale, participants will have the opportunity to present their plan to implement a REDI plan that is unique to their organization and aligns with its goals. Additionally, participants will identify and build strong connections for ongoing support and collaboration to monitor and evaluate the success of their racial equity, diversity, and inclusion plans. They will learn best practices for implementation, measuring success, and how to overcome challenges that may arise along the way.

Adding to this enriching experience, we’re delighted to have Karla Bruce as a guest speaker, who will bring inspiring insights and guide a facilitated post-election conversation. This dialogue with Karla will delve into critical issues, exploring questions such as:

• What can we do to hold the line?
• What organizing strategies do we need to engage in as community development practitioners?
• What are the legal implications of our work moving forward?

Featured Speakers

Karla Bruce Chief of Staff Race Forward	Angela Carlberg Senior Director of Community Development Ecosystem Building at Community Development Advocates of Detroit (Co-Facilitator)	Ebony Walden Founder Ebony Walden Consulting (Co-Facilitator)

Registration fees: This event is only for the LEAD Racial Equity Institute cohort members.

Join HAND in celebrating the holiday season at our highly-anticipated year-end gathering!

Come together with affordable housing & community development professionals and stakeholders for an evening of connection and festive cheer. Indulge in seasonal light bites and delicious beverages as you mix and mingle with industry peers. We are excited to share this special occasion with you and foster meaningful connections. So, get ready to ring in the holiday season at HAND’s annual holiday mixer!

Registration Details: This event is free to current HAND Members; Non-Member Fee: $150.

PHOTOS

We invite our members to join POLITICO Live on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:15 am, for a deep-dive discussion with policymakers, local leaders and housing experts on how to fix America’s housing crisis and build a foundation for financial prosperity. Rising costs, restrictive local zoning policies, and critical inventory shortages have intensified the national housing crisis posing long term consequences for the economy. Accessing affordable and quality housing has become increasingly difficult, and in some cases, unattainable for many Americans. Now, as the housing crisis reaches its boiling point, the next Congress and Administration are poised to act.

HAND is hard at work addressing these issues, leveraging impactful tools such as the Housing Indicator Tool, which tracks housing production and preservation in the Capital Region to support stakeholders in creating paths to remove obstacles and support housing stability. This tool seeks to place income and racial equity at the center of the conversation, acknowledging that affected households—particularly low and moderate-income families and people of color—require targeted action in light of rising housing costs.

In alignment with HAND’s commitment to driving systemic change, we are excited to announce that Steven Palmer, Director of Public Policy at HAND, will contribute his expertise to a critical discussion hosted by POLITICO. He will join a panel alongside Dennis Shea, Executive Director of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy. They will engage in a conversation moderated by POLITICO, examining actionable solutions to fix America’s housing crisis and lay down a foundation for financial prosperity for all. Register today to join Steven, Dennis, and other key speakers in this essential conversation.

Unpack Challenges & Actionable Solutions Featuring…

Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) Member House Ways & Means Committee	Steven Palmer Director of Public Policy HAND	Dennis Shea Executive Director, J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center	The Honorable Adrianne Todman Agency Head HUD	Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) Member House Financial Services Committee

Explore Public-Private Collaboration with Capital One

Desiree Francis Managing Vice President Head of Community Finance Capital One	Rachel Loeffler Executive Vice President and General Manager Professional Business POLITICO

Registration fees: This is not a HAND event.

Participants will learn best practices for implementing their unique racial equity, diversity and inclusion plan, to include holding their organizations accountable and sustaining the goals and outcomes of the plan. They will gain an understanding of setting measurable goals as well as monitoring and evaluating success.

Featured Speakers

Angela Carlberg Senior Director of Community Development Ecosystem Building at Community Development Advocates of Detroit (Co-Facilitator)	Ebony Walden Founder Ebony Walden Consulting (Co-Facilitator)

Registration fees: This event is only for the LEAD Racial Equity Institute cohort members.

Join us on November 7th at 1pm for an invaluable presentation of HAND’s latest Salary & Benefits Survey results. This biennial event provides HAND members with essential data, ensuring your organization remains competitive and equitable in its salary and benefits offerings. Beyond compensation, this survey serves as a critical tool for 990 compliance and strategic planning, offering comprehensive comparative data.

During our session, we will unveil key findings and trends from the data. Rest assured, privacy is paramount; no individual organization’s data will be disclosed. Instead, we’ll present our discoveries as aggregate trends, giving you a macro view of our industry’s current state.

This presentation aims to be immensely beneficial for you and your team. We encourage active participation, so come prepared to engage, interact, and pose any questions you may have to our data analysts.

Registration fees: This event is only for organizations who participated in the survey.

Join HAND and National Housing Trust (NHT) for a three-part webinar series that provides technical assistance around common problems that arise during the decarbonization and electrification of affordable multifamily properties. Through the D.C. Green, Healthy and Affordable Housing Program (D.C. HGA Housing), NHT—in partnership with Children’s Law Center and Children’s National Hospital—are providing financial and technical support to retrofit buildings whose negative environmental effects adversely impact communities of color – specifically children of color – at higher rates than other populations. Though the D.C. HGA Housing Program is working with specific D.C. properties, these trainings are open to all geographies as the entire region continues to tackle environmental justice issues.

D.C. area multifamily property owners spend routinely to control allergens from pest infestations and water intrusions, to limited effect. During this webinar panelists will present case studies comparing effectiveness of different strategies to control cockroach and rodent infestations, and will demonstrate cost effective techniques to address root causes. Panelists will also present proven strategies for identifying and remediating sources of plumbing leaks and water intrusions. The webinar will examine the health risks and economic impacts of common allergens found in multifamily affordable housing, including allergens associated with cockroaches, rodents and mold.

Featured Speakers

Coby Schal Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor North Carolina State University	William Rusty Spearman Board Certified Indoor Environmentalist Master Home Inspector Arrowhead Consulting	Changlu Wang Extension Specialist in Entomology Rutgers University	Leslie Zarker Director of Sustainability Policy National Housing Trust

Registration Details: This event is free to current HAND Members; Non-Member Fee: $75.

WATCH RECORDING

Join HAND and National Housing Trust (NHT) for a three-part webinar series that provides technical assistance around common problems that arise during the decarbonization and electrification of affordable multifamily properties. Through the D.C. Green, Healthy and Affordable Housing Program (D.C. HGA Housing), NHT—in partnership with Children’s Law Center and Children’s National Hospital—are providing financial and technical support to retrofit buildings whose negative environmental effects adversely impact communities of color – specifically children of color – at higher rates than other populations. Though the D.C. HGA Housing Program is working with specific D.C. properties, these trainings are open to all geographies as the entire region continues to tackle environmental justice issues.

Multifamily buildings can pose unique challenges to ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ). This webinar will demystify IAQ in multifamily buildings and focus on developing effective strategies to retrofit ventilation systems to control air flow and reduce air leakage in multifamily housing. Learn best practices to ventilating multifamily units non-obtrusively and practical solutions for indoor air quality. Understand the effects of compartmentalization on airflows and contaminant transport in multifamily buildings.

Featured Speakers

Adam Romano Senior Director, Workforce Development & Training Association for Energy Affordability	Jonathan Wilson Deputy Director National Center for Healthy Housing	Leslie Zarker Director of Sustainability Policy National Housing Trust

Registration Details: This event is free to current HAND Members; Non-Member Fee: $75.

WATCH RECORDING

During this session, cohort members will have the opportunity to practice their finale presentations and receive valuable feedback before presenting to the panel of judges.

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.

Participants will learn about the importance of community involvement in advancing housing equity and exploring effective communication and engagement strategies, including culturally competent outreach.

Registration fees: This event is only for the LEAD Racial Equity Institute cohort members.

In this session, we’ll address the unique challenges that arise during the first year of operations. We’ll dive into the essentials of coordinated entry and other tenant referral processes, as well as strategies for managing move-ins and ensuring housing retention. The goal is to equip you with valuable insights and tools to navigate these challenges successfully. You’ll leave this session with a clear understanding of how to tackle these aspects effectively and ensure a smooth transition into the first year of operations.

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.

Through this session, participants will be given the basics of fair housing and will develop a preliminary understanding of low-barrier housing. Participants will be guided through the steps of tenant lease-up and will work to eliminate barriers in tenant screening, intake, and lease signing.

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.

This session will provide an overview of the different models of integrated supportive housing.  During the session, project teams will look at ways to help foster lasting working relationships, areas where coordination can be most effective, and explore the best practices of integrated supportive housing. They will explore the ins and outs of building operations and the associated services. Additionally, we’ll delve into topics such as working with tenants, creating and enforcing leases, coordinating services, managing crises, and addressing common challenges in property management. The aim is to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate these areas effectively.

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.

Participants will understand the process of developing racial equity strategies, learning to articulate where they are in the process and what needs to happen to reach completion of this plan or launch a new initiative.

Registration fees: This event is only for the LEAD Racial Equity Institute cohort members.

In an effort to alleviate the current affordable housing crisis, most communities around the country focus on increasing housing supply through new construction and zoning reform. However, ensuring that affordable homes remain available requires communities to simultaneously prioritize the preservation of existing affordable housing – particularly units under threat from obsolescence, loss of affordability, or sale. How are communities prioritizing preservation and what more can be done in our region? Join HAND and National Housing Trust in a two-part preservation series to hear government officials and affordable housing industry champions discuss how preservation can be achieved through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and how to leverage the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and other policies to advance preservation priorities.

National Housing Trust will share insights from their nationwide analysis of 53 QAPs, showcasing how and where states are prioritizing preservation. With an eye towards the DMV, attendees will have an opportunity to hear directly from housing industry professionals representing Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. – each of whom are currently updating their respective QAPs – on their preservation policies and provide feedback on ways to strengthen their approaches.

Featured Speakers

Edward Barnett Director of Rental Lending Maryland DHCD	Christopher Earley  Deputy Director DC DHCD	Priya Jayachandran CEO National Housing Trust	Jonathan Kinsey Senior Tax Credit Allocation Officer Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Virginia Housing	Moha Thakur Public Policy & Mid-Atlantic Initiatives Manager National Housing Trust (Moderator)

Registration Details: This event is free to current HAND Members; Non-Member Fee: $75.

Participants can expect to gain a thorough understanding of the core principles of supportive housing and evidence-based best practices in the field of supportive housing. Cohort members will go on a site visit to see an example of a local permanent supportive housing project, learn about the services they provide, and more.

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.

During this session, cohort members will establish their team’s mission, values and project strategies.

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.

CSH, Virginia Housing, Virginia Housing Alliance, and HAND will host the in-person kick-off where teams will learn about the importance of partnerships and the valuable role each team member will play throughout the various stages of the project

Registration fees: This session is only open to cohort members in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia region.