With temperatures in much of the country pushing into the 90s and beyond, it’s a good time to think about fall, which for housing advocates will be as busy as summer was hot. Here at NHC, we are already hard at work planning Solutions for Affordable Housing 2018, Nov. 27-28 at the National Press Club. Over the next few months, we expect the Trump administration to reconsider regulations on fair housing and the Community Reinvestment Act, as well as issue new regulations for Opportunity Zones. Congress will be finalizing spending bills and must reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program in November. I also expect the Trump administration to nominate a candidate to replace Mel Watt, whose term as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency ends in January.
Looming over all of these issues is the November election, which is expected to change the leadership of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate as well. But whatever change is decided won’t begin until after New Year’s – which will be preceded by a Republican-led lame-duck session in November and December. This is why you need to join us for this year’s Solutions for Affordable Housing convening. Topics will include housing finance reform, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, manufactured housing solutions, CRA modernization, Opportunity Zones and housing production and preservation, among others. We will feature several A-list speakers from Congress and the Executive branch.
This year’s convening will also feature NHC’s first Advocacy Day, giving you the chance to make your case for the policies your community needs. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in meetings with their members of Congress as well as key administration officials at HUD and Treasury. Current as well as newly elected members of Congress will be in town and need to hear from you.
Sponsorships for Solutions for Affordable Housing 2018 are available at several levels. Your organization can join current sponsors JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, among others, to make this event a big success. If you’d like to sponsor part of the convening, please reach out to Amanda Mitchell soon, before all of the best opportunities are taken.