People & Places 2017

The Big #YIMBY Wins Of The 2016 Election

Hear From The People Behind The Wins At People & Places Event

Voters committed more than $3 billion for affordable homes and vibrant communities across 32 jurisdictions in 2016. The vast majority of these wins got at least 60% of the vote. As uncertainty clouds federal resources, People & Places 2017 will focus on how states and municipalities around the country are stepping up to the plate with new resources. Come hear from the people behind these local victories. Take a look at these local policy sessions, then explore the full agendaEarly-bird registration ends Friday, April 14.

EBHO resident leaders rallyPolicy Workshops:

Big Affordable Housing Wins at the Ballot
In Baltimore, Maryland, 83% of voters said yes to create the city’s first affordable housing trust fund. In Portland, Oregon, 62% of voters said yes to a $258 million bond. In the San Francisco Bay Area, voters approved three revenue measure that will generate $2 billion for affordable homes. Lead staff of these victorious campaigns will discuss how they achieved these historic wins, including building new coalitions in Baltimore and Portland; raising funds to support the campaign; and the creation of voter lists in the Bay Area comprised of affordable housing developments and their residents. Speakers: Odette Ramos, Community Development Network of Maryland; Sharon Cornu, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California; and Jes Larson, Welcome Home Coalition. Shown: East Bay Housing Organizations resident leaders rally in Oakland

Residents United NetworkBuilding Power for Lasting Change
The affordable-home development industry has faced setbacks. In response, leaders looked to organizing their residents as a way to turn the tide, and their efforts have paid off. In local to regional campaigns, empowered residents have secured funding sources for affordable homes. The Residents United Network (a Housing California project) and the Resident Action Project (a Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance project) have successfully engaged those most impacted by affordable housing policies. Both campaigns get support from the Center for Community Change. Speakers: Lisa Hershey, Housing California; Kristina Nielander, Resident Action Project; and Katy Heins, Center for Community Change. Shown: RUN members go to the California statehouse to tell their stories. Photo by Alex Matthews.

Understanding CRA and Organizing for Community Benefits
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is a federal law that requires banks to serve the credit needs of low-and-moderate income communities and to provide equal access to responsible financial products. NCRC monitors banks and empowers communities, through organizing, to respond when banks fall short on their CRA exams or when there is a merger or acquisition. Find out how organizing efforts have led to over $62 billion in markets across the country and how Dayton, Ohio has organized to advocate for a local agreement. Speakers: Nicole Barden, NCRC; Catherine Crosby, City of Dayton Human Relations Council.

Raymond Ocasio speaks out for Lead Free Kids NJThe Keeping Kids Lead Free In Healthy Communities
& Homes Coalition
Advocacy efforts by a diverse coalition in New Jersey successfully resulted in Gov. Christie restoring funding for childhood lead poisoning prevention, which had been diverted for nearly a decade. In the last few months, $10 million has been deployed to nonprofits in order to remediate lead paint from the homes of low- and moderate-income NJ families. Find out how these CDCs, health advocates and thought leaders are affecting policy changes on the state and federal level to expand healthy communities and homes, and implementing those changes in their neighborhoods. Speakers: Bob Atkins of New Jersey Health Initiatives—Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Raymond Ocasio of La Casa de Don Pedro in Newark, Pilar Hogan of Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society in Camden, and Staci Berger of the Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey. Shown: Press conference at the state Capitol for Lead Free Kids NJ.

TED-Style Talks on Policy:

A Sustainable Funding Stream for Community Development 
Massachusetts' Community Investment Tax Credit supports a diverse network of resident-led, high-impact community development organizations. Find out how it works from John Fitterer, Massachusetts Association of CDCs.
Practicing Equity in the Rio Grande Valley  
Hear about the power of partnerships in fighting for sustainable housing and drainage infrastructure solutions in Texas's Rio Grande Valley from Lisa Neergard and Omar Hakeem of bcWorkshop.
Ending the Criminal Justice Debt Trap: Strategies to Stop the Overuse of Court Fines and Fees
Find out how organizations are putting pressure on state and local criminal justice systems to stop the harmful overuse of fines and fees from Alexandra Bastien of PolicyLink.

Hotel Discount

People & Places 2017 will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia – right above the Crystal City Metro Station. The hotel is minutes from Washington, DC and just one Metrorail stop away from Reagan National Airport. Reserve a discounted hotel room.

The early-bird discount for People & Places ends April 14.

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