Can I Be Your Neighbor? HAND conference examines suburban housing choices

Registration is open for HAND Inc.’s fourth-annual fall housing conference, scheduled for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Cambria Hotel Westfield. Titled “Can I Be Your Neighbor? Straight Talk about our Housing Choices,” the event will include a keynote session unveiling results of the 2018 Hamilton County Housing Needs Assessment.

Tickets are $65 per person and include a continental breakfast and lunch. Register here.

The keynote speaker is Rachel Denton, a partner in consultant Novogradac & Co.’s Kansas City office. HAND hired Novogradac to update the countywide housing analysis. The report is expected to explore the potential impact of our housing choices on local economic growth.

“It is becoming increasingly evident that a lack of affordable housing and the absence of public transit is leading to a workforce shortage in our county,” said HAND Executive Director Jennifer Miller. “We look forward to seeing the results of the Housing Needs Assessment and understanding more about how housing impacts the economic health of our community.”

Mark Fisher, chief policy officer for the Indy Chamber, will give a presentation on inclusive regional growth, and Samantha Spergel, director of real estate production for the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, will share the latest on state and national housing policies.

Other speakers include Carmel Realtor Shell Barger, Fishers developer Corby Thompson, Builders Association CEO Steve Lains, Whitestown Town Manager Dax Norton, and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness.

Attendees also will participate in the United Way of Central Indiana’s “In One Moment” poverty simulation exercise.

Conference sponsors include United Fidelity Bank, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, Legacy Fund, Nelson & Frankenberger LLC, Boomerang Development, and HWC Engineering.

Founded as Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development in 2003, HAND has developed seven affordable rental communities with a total of 106 units in Hamilton County. This year, it acquired 17 duplexes in Lebanon, extending its reach to nearby Boone County. Its mission is to be a leader in promoting prosperity and diversity in its communities by providing quality housing opportunities.