Join us for an in-depth discussion and overview of HUD's latest fair housing guidance on rental applicant screening. This webinar will delve into the practical implications of the guidance, offer compliance strategies, and explore how policymakers can harness this framework to develop local and state tenant screening policies that promote fair and non-discriminatory housing access. Additionally, we will present new research on the harms caused by automated tenant screening practices, as well as critical insights into the limitations and challenges of portable tenant screening reports. Designed for housing advocates, landlords, property managers, legal practitioners, and policymakers, this session will provide essential tools and perspectives for aligning tenant screening practices with fair housing principles and advancing inclusive, equitable housing communities.

What does the term “just transition” mean? How can finance truly be liberated from traditional business assumptions and instead be mobilized to support a just transition to an economy rooted in values of solidarity?

Those questions were at the heart of an economic justice article series coproduced this summer by Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) and Justice Funders. To addresses those questions, drawing on the contributions from many of the authors in that series, this 90-minute webinar will offer a conversation on the joys and challenges, dos and don’ts, of putting liberatory finance and investment into action in the real world. Our expert panelists are:

Fernando Abarca is a loan fund organizer for Right to the City Alliance, based in Los Angeles, California.

Jaime Gloshay is a cofounder of Native Women Lead and is managing director of impact investments for Common Future, based in New Mexico.

abdiel j. lópez is director of capital activation at Justice Funders based between Oaxaca and Los Angeles.

Onyx Ramirez is senior communications director at Black Farmer Fund based in New York City.This webinar will explore:

• What is a just transition and what role does finance have in bringing a just transition about?

• What are the best ways to think about “risk” in a liberatory finance context?

• What do we mean when we use the term of “non-extractive finance”?

• How can a loan fund be democratically governed?

• What is a land recovery fund and how does it function?

• What does an Indigenous loan fund look like—and what are the 5Rs of Rematriation?

• How can liberatory finance support housing justice?

• What would real foundation accountability to communities look like?

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, board member, or engaged in community-based organizing, this webinar will provide you with real-life examples and lessons learned that can inform your work in your own community.

Register to learn how nonprofits and movement activists are advancing strategies to address the economic and social inequalities of our time!

The moderator for this webinar is NPQ senior editor of economic justice Steve Dubb. Steve has worked with cooperatives and nonprofits for over two decades and has been both a student and practitioner in the field of community economic development.

Engage with housing practitioners, advocates, community activists and researchers as we explore effective solutions to the housing crisis beyond building more units. Speakers will discuss methods for increasing affordability and making units and homes permanently affordable, such as establishing community land trusts, expanding housing assistance, and more!

Join NCRC member Utah Housing Coalition for this event on November 19. Over the past 5 years, Utah has been making changes in the way they address housing & homelessness. The Governor, Legislature, state and local governments, and industry members have been working together to tackle the problems more efficiently. Please join the Governor’s Office of Budget and Planning to learn about the progress and future steps.

MORPC and partners are hosting a workshop on the critical role effective planning and zoning plays in future development of Central Ohio.

Join the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC), the OhioREALTORS, and Pattern Zones Co. to hear an update on the development of a statewide pattern book toolkit to increase the supply of infill housing in the state.

Once released, the toolkit will include architectural renderings of housing that local communities can adopt. The toolkit will also include zoning corrective recommendations that can increase housing development and promote infill development.

GOPC and the OhioREALTORS are partnering on this project, with Pattern Zones Co. serving as the consultant to develop the book, its recommendations, and architectural renderings. Ahead of the release of the toolkit, this webinar will share details for what local governments, builders, developers, and nonprofits can anticipate.

Registration is required for the webinar, which will take place on November 18th from 3-4pm.

 A successful nonpartisan voter engagement campaign does not end on Election Day. After the election is over, housing and homelessness organizations should evaluate the impact of their activities, leverage the power of low-income renters as a voting constituency, and establish relationships with newly elected officials. This webinar will cover strategies to hold elected officials accountable to their campaign promises and advocate for long-term, systemic change to increase voter access.

In Los Angeles County, a unique pilot program is using predictive analytics to help prevent homelessness. Under the program, researchers from the California Policy Lab (CPL) use anonymized data on almost 100,000 people who use health and mental health services provided eight different county agencies to develop computer models that identify clients of County services who are at high risk of homelessness. Officials at the county’s Health Services or Mental Health Departments then work to connect those individuals with programs and/or resources that can address their needs and, in doing so, help ensure that they do not experience homelessness. CPL is also working with county officials to assess the efficacy of this novel approach, which is based on a 2019 CPL report. Co-sponsored by the Initiative on Health and Homelessness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard Joint Center on Housing Studies, the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, and the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative.

In Los Angeles County, a unique pilot program is using predictive analytics to help prevent homelessness. Under the program, researchers from the California Policy Lab (CPL) use anonymized data on almost 100,000 people who use health and mental health services provided eight different county agencies to develop computer models that identify clients of County services who are at high risk of homelessness. Officials at the county’s Health Services or Mental Health Departments then work to connect those individuals with programs and/or resources that can address their needs and, in doing so, help ensure that they do not experience homelessness. CPL is also working with county officials to assess the efficacy of this novel approach, which is based on a 2019 CPL report.

Many older adults want to live independently but can only do so if they have access to long-term care (LTC) services, such as bathing, dressing, shopping, cooking, and daily healthcare routines. However, many cannot afford this assistance, particularly after they pay their housing costs. Samara Scheckler and Peyton Whitney will discuss a new paper that estimates the number of older households unable to afford these services and strategies that could make them more affordable. Panel discussion to follow, moderated by Jennifer Molinsky, director of the Center’s Housing an Aging Society Program.

Housing is an investment. Investment prices must go up. Housing is shelter. When the price of shelter goes up, people experience distress. 

This is the housing trap. It’s time to escape. This presentation introduces a first-of-its-kind discussion of the tension between housing as a financial product and housing as shelter. These insights will help local communities fight back against the current affordability housing crisis, and opt out of the boom and bust cycles that have typified housing in postwar America. 

This presentation offers a serious, yet accessible, history of housing policy in the United States and explains how it led us to this point in time: where we face a market that is rigged against people who, only a few decades ago, could have been homeowners or stable, long-term renters. Only local change, on a neighborhood or city-wide scale, can begin to restore balance to the housing market.

Charles Marohn, known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues, is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a civil engineer and a land use planner with decades of experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota. Marohn is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity (Wiley, 2019), And of Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town (Wiley, 2021). He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America. Planetizen named him one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.

This fall, CURA and MORPC are hosting a series of presentations featuring national and local leaders to dive into the issue of housing and its impact on communities.

This event is approved for 1 AICP CM credit. To claim your CM credits, log into your My APA account on the APA website and enter the event into your online CM event log.

Registration

Are you a "Non" or "For-profit" Developer, Investor or Resource Provider interested in revitalizing your neighborhood? This is for You!



Central Ohio Community Land Trust (COCLT) works with developers to provide residential, new construction homes on currently owned Land Bank lots in areas with high housing costs.

Join us to learn more, from Hope Paxton, as she shares how COCIC is working with Developers, through the Central Ohio Community Land Trust as a Community Investment for permanently affordable housing.

COCLT has completed homes in the Near East, South Side, Franklinton, Whitehall, Urbancrest, Linden, Milo-Grogan, Weinland Park, Clinton Township, Mifflin Township, the Hilltop, and Franklin Township. They partner with reputable developers and builders and aim for well-built, energy-efficient, durable homes that fit the design of the neighborhood.

Register here:

[This Event will be held via Zoom]

Please register to receive log-in information

Looking forward to connecting with you through Cisco Webex!

Your Columbus Empowerment Corporation Team!

Shelterforce presents "The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: What It Is, How It Will Work, and How Communities Can Truly Benefit," a webinar exploring how this federal initiative will impact affordable housing residents and community development organizations. Learn from representatives of organizations that have received Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) grants and discover how these resources can benefit your community. The discussion will be moderated by Lara Heard, Shelterforce’s Associate Editor and will feature: • Erika L. King, African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, Senior Vice President, Economic Development and Lending • Krista Egger, Enterprise Community Partners, VP, Building Resilient Futures • Mary Scott Balys, OFN, SVP Public Polic

With RESPA turning 50 this year, the MBA is publishing a White Paper exploring both the continued necessity of RESPA Section 8 and key reforms to make the Section fit the modern mortgage industry.

Pickleball Party - Hosted by OWAHN and NEF

Join us for an exciting evening of networking and pickleball at the Pickleball & Party, hosted by OWAHN and NEF! Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, this event promises fun for everyone. We'll be at Pickle & Chill in Columbus on Monday, November 4th, right after the OHFA Welcome Reception.

Event Highlights:

• Networking & Fun: Whether you're playing or just watching, it's a great night to make new connections, enjoy some laughs, and cheer on your peers.

• Pickleball Instruction: Never played before? No worries! We'll have professional instructors on hand to teach you the basics.

• Round Robin Tournament: For those ready to compete, sign up for our friendly round robin tournament and show off your skills!

• Shuttle Service: Convenient shuttle service will run from the Columbus Convention Center starting at 6:45 PM to bring you straight to the action.

Date: Monday, November 4th, 2024
Location: Pickle & Chill, Columbus, OH
Shuttle Start Time: 6:45 PM (from the Columbus Convention Center)

Donations made will support EDEN, Bethany House, Cherry Street Ministries, and Harriet's Hope—organizations providing vital services to those in need.

Join Shelterforce’s Schlonn Hawkins and Housing Narrative Lab’s Marisol Bello for a live event on the housing issues shaping the 2024 primary election. Together, they’ll explore the top concerns of housing advocates and voters, assess the candidates’ housing policies, and consider the future of affordable housing under the next administration. How can advocates prepare for potential outcomes? Don’t miss this pivotal discussion! Come ready with your questions and concerns. Join the conversation

Join us for a captivating discussion between Robin Hughes (Housing Partnership Network), Cedric Bobo (Project Destined), Jan Haase and Jazmin Vasquez (Community HousingWorks). Discover how Cedric and the remarkable Project Destined platform are revolutionizing the identification of diverse talent, and learn from Robin, who forged a partnership with Cedric to extend this impact to the affordable housing sector. Jan will share why Community HousingWorks became involved, while Jazmin will discuss how the program has shaped her career. Come, listen, and gain insights from their journeys, discovering how you can leverage their experiences to benefit your organizations.

This community event provides residents a direct platform to engage with county leaders, ask questions, and learn how local government is working for you.

Join us at the Reeb Center on the Southside, where Commissioner Erica C. Crawley, County Administrator Kenneth Wilson, and leadership from the Department of Economic Development and Planning will be present.

This is an interactive community conversation! While the focus will be on the 2024 Annual Action Plan—covering strategies for community growth, housing initiatives, and economic progress—residents are welcome to ask any questions they may have.

Whether you’re looking to ask questions, share feedback, or simply listen, your voice is key to shaping the future of Franklin County.

United Way of Licking County is convening the community for a public forum on homelessness and the need for affordable housing.

Local experts will share insights and solutions.

The event will occur at 6:00 PM at DoubleTree by Hilton, located at 50 N. 2nd Street, Newark, OH 43055 (NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE)

Make sure to register early as spots are limited!

Register: igfn.us/form/2eJHJA

We hope you’ll carve out time to join Park home lenders and local real

estate professionals for a fab-boo-lous lunch and learn event! Our special

guest is Leah Evans, president and CEO of Homeport. Leah’s presentation

is titled, Fear Not: Affordable Housing Isn’t So Spooky! Be sure to check-in

when you arrive so you’re entered in the door prize drawing*. You’ll earn

2 CE hours** for attending, too!

Ripple of Hope Celebration 2024: Sustaining IMPACT

IMPACT Community Action has prioritized the fight against poverty and has worked to address its root causes in Central Ohio for 16 years. Each year, we support individuals in our community by providing a range of services, including housing stability, utility assistance, emergency rental aid, workforce development training, and energy efficiency programs. As funding sources have diminished, we are seeking support to sustain our impact in ways that benefit both the community and the environment.

On Thursday, October 24th, IMPACT Community Action will host the Annual Ripple of Hope Awards celebration at The Boat House, located at 679 W Spring St, Columbus, OH. We will honor community leaders who are making a difference in the fight against poverty. Proceeds from this event will help sustain our ongoing programs. We invite you to join us in making this event a success; your support creates the next drop in the ripple effect.

Tour one of Healthy Home’s first Accessory Dwelling Units!

Your Columbus Urban League’s Signature Annual Event, Empowerment Day 2024, will be held on October 22 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown.

Become a sponsor today!

Stay tuned to this page for more updates about sponsorship opportunities, individual tickets and program information. As always, Empowerment Day will offer a thought-provoking program while honoring those making a difference in our community every day.

To see the full playlist of videos from Empowerment Day 2023, please click here.

Learn more about 2024 Sponsorship Opportunities Now!

Election Day is an all-hands-on-deck effort to get voters to the polls—the culmination of months of voter registration, education, and mobilization activities. Panelists will review the most effective Election Day Get Out the Vote (GOTV) tactics, such as coordinating rides to the polls, hosting community walks to the polls, bringing snacks and music to keep people in line at busy polling locations, recruiting volunteers to follow up with those who have not yet voted, and hosting post-election celebrations.

With large pieces of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire in 2025, taxes will be a top priority for the next presidential administration and Congress. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee, has outlined an agenda that would build on the current administration’s recent budget plans while maintaining a pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 a year. Her proposals include more generous tax breaks for lower- and middle-income workers, families, and small businesses and higher taxes on wealthy households and corporations. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee, has called for making most of the TCJA permanent. He has also proposed raising tariffs and adopting tax breaks for tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. Join the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center for a conversation about tax policy in the 2024 election and what it means for the upcoming year. The event will feature two panels of experts. The first will discuss proposals and issues that have been raised throughout the campaign, while the second will focus on what the election means for legislation in 2025.

In 2023, Franklin County experienced 23,900 evictions. Despite this being an increase of over 12,000 from the previous year, evictions are rising again in 2024. Needless to say, this is a major issue in Central Ohio. Mya Frazier, a journalist based in Columbus, researched evictions in the city for a story in Harper's Magazine published in 2024. Jyoshu Tsushima, Managing Attorney at Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, supports tenants facing evictions in Franklin County Municipal Court. Through a conversation with CURA, Frazier and Tsushima will help attendees understand the reasons for the growing eviction crisis and what is being done to combat it.

Mya Frazier is an independent journalist based in Ohio whose work focuses on the power of the U.S. financial system in the lives of low-income Americans. She has written features and cover stories on credit scoring, housing insecurity, and inequality for The New York Times Magazine and Harper’s. She is at work on a book for Knopf about the credit scoring system and poverty. She has received journalism fellowships, including: the Knight-Wallace House at the University of Michigan, the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at CUNY, the 11th Hour Food and Farming Program established by Michael Pollan at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and the Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights at the Columbia Journalism School. She is a 2024 fellow at the Watchdog Writers Group at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. She previously worked as a business reporter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, American City Business Journals, and Bloomberg Businessweek. 

Jyoshu Tsushima is a managing attorney at the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio. In 2017, Jyoshu started the Tenant Advocacy Project, also known as “TAP,” an eviction prevention clinic at Franklin County Municipal Court. TAP has provided thousands of tenants and their families legal representation in a court where over 90% of landlords are represented by eviction specialists. In addition to eviction litigation, Jyoshu has an interest in consumer protections for tenants, automation in property management, landlord-tenant policy, and rental market systems.

This fall, CURA and MORPC are hosting a series of presentations featuring national and local leaders to dive into the issue of housing and its impact on communities.

This event is approved for 1 AICP CM credit. To claim your CM credits, log into your My APA account on the APA website and enter the event into your online CM event log.

This event is free. Space is limited. Register by October 11, 2024.

Local and state elected officials, community stakeholders, private developers, and employers are grappling with Ohio’s recognized lack of high-quality, workforce-attainable housing options. While Ohio has been successful in securing numerous large and small projects, communities are now confronting the challenge of finding housing solutions for the new workers that these economic development wins will bring. In some areas, the lack of new housing is becoming a significant barrier to continued economic growth.

This session will frame the current state of Ohio’s housing market, examining both the positive aspects and challenges. We’ll explore trends in the construction of new housing units, as well as market conditions in the sale and leasing activity of existing housing stock. Following this, attention will shift to the “How?”, “What?”, and “Why?” of local communities’ involvement in planning, zoning, regulatory activities, and housing development transactions, all aimed at sparking solutions within their markets.

Speakers from Ohio REALTORS, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Bricker Graydon LLP, and the public and private sectors will share insights on successful public-private partnership models and the tools available to to build collaborative partnerships for success. This session marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue, recognizing that finding sustainable solutions will take time, ongoing collaboration, and a collective effort across all stakeholders.

Agenda:

• 8:30 - 9:00 AM: Breakfast/Registration/Networking

• 9:00 AM: Speakers

• Lt. Governor Jon Husted

  1. Kenny McDonald, CEO, One Columbus

  2. Jon Melchi, Executive Director, Building Industry Association of Central Ohio

  3. Jeff Fix, Fairfield County Commissioner

  4. Jessica Kuenzli, Chief Regional Planning Officer, MORPC

  5. Jamie Greene, AIA, FAICP, Founder & Principal, Planning NEXT

  6. Veronica Cardello, Assistant VP, External Engagement, Ohio REALTORS

  7. Jackie Lewis, Partner, Bricker Graydon LLP

  8. Jeff Harris, Partner, Bricker Graydon LLP

• 10:30 AM: Adjourn