The session opened with remarks from HUD on the purpose of this conference, the importance of the HUD Housing Counseling program, OHC’s priorities and the value of partnerships with conference participants, and a review of the day’s agenda.

Speakers:

• Marcia Fudge, Secretary, HUD
• David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC
• Shawna LaRue Moraille, Director, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Secretary Marcia Fudge's Opening Remarks
• Slides
• Transcript

This session examined national trends and supporting data which have implications for housing counseling. The conversation featured topics such as foreclosure rates, rising rents, and eviction prevention and will address the impact of these topics on the housing counseling industry.

Speakers:

• David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC
• Adam Porton, Housing Program Specialist, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC
• Chang Chiu, Special Policy Advisor, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)
• Ray Carlisle, Honorary President, National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB)
• Brian Kim, Housing Program Manager, National Coalition For Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD)
• Clair Weatherby, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session offered insight and updates on public and private lending policies, products and services and their implications for housing counseling, along with new ideas and strategies being created to help agencies better support the homeownership goals of their clients.

Speakers:

• Bill Merrill, Division of Housing Mission and Goals, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)
• Gary Acosta, Co-Founder and CEO, The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP)
• Julienne Joseph, Deputy Assistant Secretary, HUD’s Office of Single-Family Housing for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) (Moderator)
• Karen Hoskins, Lead Housing Counseling Consultant, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

The Housing Counseling industry continues to evolve, shifting the way agencies develop their workforce. Both intermediaries and agencies have accomplished the task of ensuring that all eligible housing counselors providing counseling have passed the HUD Housing Counseling Certification exam. As we look beyond certification, it’s important to highlight professionalism within the industry and methods to create a pipeline of qualified candidates. This session discussed how some intermediaries and agencies have incorporated innovative approaches to building their workforce pipeline.

Speakers:

• David Young, Director of Capacity Building, Housing Action Illinois (HAI)
• Debie Baranchulk, Program Coordinator, Housing Programs, and Donna Brooks, Rural Development Specialist- Housing Counseling, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
• Ibijoke Akinbowale, Director of Community Impact, National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC)
• Stephanie Williams, Deputy Director, Office of Outreach and Capacity Building (OCB), OHC (Moderator)
• Sid Alvarado, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session provided national updates on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program. The session also featured Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) website resources and covered common questions received from HCAs across the country.

Speakers:

• Rob Weber, Housing Specialist, OHC
• Patrick Orr, Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Treasury
• Greg Zagorski, Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist, NCSHA
• Rosemarie Sabatino, Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist, NCSHA
• Mark McArdle, Assistant Director, Mortgage Markets, CFPB
• Shawna LaRue Moraille, Director, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

Day Two of the conference began with Deputy Assistant Secretary of OHC, David Berenbaum, and three key housing counseling industry associations. They discussed future of housing counseling, the work their organizations are doing, and priorities for the next fiscal year.

Speakers:

• David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC
• Ellie Pepper, Deputy Director, National Housing Resource Center (NHRC)
• Greg Zagorski, Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist, NCSHA
• Linda Davis-Demas, Vice President of Housing, BALANCE

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session featured the latest guidance and updates from the FHEO PAVE Taskforce.

Speakers:

• Melody Taylor, Executive Director, PAVE Task Force, Acting Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary of Enforcement and Program Compliance, FHEO
• David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC (Moderator)
• Tierra Howard, Senior Community Development Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session featured the latest guidance and updates from the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD).

Speakers:

• Joseph Baietti, Special Assistant to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, CPD
• Shawna LaRue Moraille, Director, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session featured the latest guidance and updates from the Offices of Multifamily Housing and Public and Indian Housing (PIH).

Speakers:

• Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary, PIH
• Ethan Handelman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing
• Tammy Dunn, Housing Specialist, OHC (Moderator)
• Clair Weatherby, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

Housing counseling that is sensitive to the cultural and language needs of clients is a critical component in closing the homeownership gap. This session discussed promising practices to ensuring that these elements are included in service delivery.

Speakers:

• Lanalle Smith, Senior Programs Officer of Capacity Building, First Nations Oweesta Corporation
• Ernesto Martinez, Director of Asset Building Programs, Mission Economic Development Agency
• David Valdez, Senior Housing Program Specialist, Office of Policy and Grants Administration, OHC (Moderator)
• Clair Weatherby, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

Partnerships with MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), provide current and future opportunities to advance racial equity in housing and foster generational wealth building. In this session, attendees learned from HCAs along with colleges and universities that are participating in these partnerships.

Speakers:

• Latisha Carlisle, Vice President of Housing, NID HCA
• Anthony Banks, Resident Engagement and Service Manager, Housing Authority of the City of Greensboro
• Odetta Evans, Housing Counselor and Coordinator, SHORE UP! Inc.
• Tracie Oaks-Ross, Housing Program Specialist, Office of Policy and Grant Administration, OHC (Moderator)
• Karen Hoskins, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist Consultant, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session addressed the important role HCAs play before, during, and after a disaster occurs. Attendees learned more about resources available that support the disaster related housing needs of clients and agencies.

Speakers:

• Jason Coughenour, Disaster Recovery Coordinator, HUD's Office of Field Policy and Management (FPM)
• Virginia Holman, Housing Program Specialist, Office of Outreach and Capacity Building, OHC
• Meredith Caley, Bilingual Personal Finance Specialist, Boulder County Personal Finance Program
• Kate Bulger, Senior Director, Business Development, Money Management International
• Olivia Healey, Community Development Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

Day Three of the conference began with a conversation between Deputy Assistant Secretary of OHC, David Berenbaum, and Diane Thompson, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They discussed key priorities, work they are doing together, and what to expect in the coming year.

Speakers:

• Diane Thompson, Senior Advisor, Office of the Director, CFPB
• David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

OHC is celebrating its 10^th year of supporting the nationwide network of HCAs in assisting homeowners and renters in making responsible choices to address their unique housing needs. This session featured members of the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) in recognizing this milestone.

Speakers:

• Daniel Garcia, Vice President/Senior Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Lending Officer, First Horizon Bank
• Bill Sevilla, Director of Community Development and Asset Building, Centro Campesino
• Carol Ann Dujanovich, Vice-President and Director of Mortgage Operations, 1^st Nations Reverse Mortgage
• Gabe Del Rio, President and CEO, Homeownership Council of America
• Richard Verrillo, Director of Business Development at Navicore Solutions
• Jane Charida, Senior Housing Program Officer, OHC (Moderator)
• Nicole Turner, Management Analyst, OHC (Moderator)
• Clair Weatherby, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

In many areas of the country, ease of access to housing counseling services is a challenge. Geographical and physical limitations of clients can limit their ability to obtain the housing information and services they need. In this session, attendees learned from OHC and HCAs across the country about innovative housing counseling services, both in person and virtual, including those in rural and tribal communities.

Speakers:

• Melinda Opperman, Chief External Affairs Officer, Credit.org
• Rita Horse, Executive Director, High Plains Community Development Corporation
• LaDonna Cruse, Housing Education Manager, Virginia Housing Counseling
• Rob Weber, Housing Specialist, OHC (Moderator)
• Alli Whitenack, Community Development Researcher, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This session offered insights for HCAs to build capacity and ensure sustainability. Attendees heard from industry leaders with guidance and tips on keeping agency doors open–from how to successfully fundraise, to staff certification and retention.

Speakers:

• Marcia Lewis, Interim Executive Director, Indianapolis Housing Agency
• Barbara Busch, Executive Director, Working in Neighborhoods
• Sid Alvarado, Lead Housing Counseling Specialist, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript

This final session included closing remarks, summarize the topics and lessons learned from this conference, and discussed how OHC will continuing exploring these themes in the coming fiscal year.

Speakers:

• Stephanie Williams, Deputy Director, Office of Outreach and Capacity Building, OHC
• Phyllis Ford, Deputy Director, Office of Oversight and Accountability, OHC
• William McKee, Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Grant Administration, OHC
• David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OHC (Moderator)
• Shawna LaRue Moraille, Director, ICF (Moderator)

Materials:

• Recording
• Slides
• Transcript