9:00-9:15am: Opening Remarks
(Somerset Ballroom)
Taiisa Kelly (Chief Executive Officer, Monarch Housing Associates)
Marcus Randolph (Chair, Board of Trustees, Monarch Housing Associates; Chief Executive Officer, Invest Newark)
Amber M. Randolph (Assistant Vice President, New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
9:15-10:00am: Morning Keynote
(Somerset Ballroom)
April De Simone (Founder and Managing Principal, The Practice of Democracy)
10:15-11:20am: Breakout Session I
Austin Boral (Co-Founder, Civic Roundtable)
Michael Callahan (Director, Office of Homelessness Prevention at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs; Chair, New Jersey Interagency Council on Homelessness)
Tanika Moss (Care Coordinator, Heart of Hannah Women’s Center; Community Consultant, Passaic County Advisory Board)
Rafael Romero (Continuum of Care Manager, NJ-504 Newark/Essex County Continuum of Care)
Jessica Torres, M.P.A. (Program Analyst, Essex County Department of Citizen Services, NJ-504 Newark/Essex County Continuum of Care)
HMIS is an essential and robust tool for CoCs and community planners to evaluate the scope, needs and outcomes of the homeless service system, but homeless service work crosses a multitude of partners, providers and sectors that are not always a part of the system. This session will focus on some of the work of CoC and statewide partners in the next steps of data analysis, integration, and the tools that can help move CoCs and community planners from collecting data to fully utilizing data to make informed decisions and improve systems.
Data, Homelessness, and the Future of HMIS presentation and speaker contact information
Renée Koubiadis (Senior Policy Advisor, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources)
Marcella Middleton (Chief Executive Officer, A Way Home America)
This panel explores the transformative journey from personal lived experiences and expertise to impactful legislative action. Our distinguished speakers, who have personally navigated significant social challenges, will share how their unique perspectives have informed and inspired policy changes. Attendees will gain insights into the process of translating real-world experiences into legislative power, the challenges faced along the way, and the strategies employed to overcome these obstacles. This session aims to empower and equip advocates, policymakers, and community leaders with the tools needed to pioneer meaningful policy changes rooted in lived experience. Join us for an engaging discussion on bridging the gap between personal narratives and systemic reform, and learn how to harness the power of lived experience to drive legislative innovation.
Lived Experience to Legislative Power presentation and speaker contact information
Jennifer Hakim (Associate, Homeless Planning Team, Monarch Housing Associates)
Michelle Manganello (Community Support Services Coordinator, Bright Harbor House)
Melissa Mclean (Expert by Experience)
Donald Whitehead, Jr. (Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless)
This session will bring to light the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. Attendees will also explore policy and outreach strategies for preventing and ending the criminalization of homelessness in their communities.
Natasha S. Davis (Real estate developer; Construction Trainer, the Black Ladies of Construction (BLOC) Society)
IyaSokoya Karade (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Mende Market Woman LLC (MMW); National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) NJ Area)
Ann McNeill (President, MCO Construction and Services, Inc; Founder, National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC))
Steve Schoch, AIA, LEED AP (Principal and Director of Housing, Thriven Design)
This panel session will focus on the various challenges that impact the affordable housing construction process and highlight the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in support of MWBE contractors. Panelists will explore strategies to expand the network of MWBE contractors, provide inclusive opportunities, and offer actionable insight for industry professionals, policymakers, and advocates committed to advancing both affordable housing and DEI in the construction sector.
Atalia Howe (Senior Vice President of Program Management, CPC Climate Capital, a subsidiary of the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC))
Michael Williams (Lead Policy and Research Specialist, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York)
Elizabeth Zeldin (Director, Neighborhood Impact, Enterprise Community Partners)
This panel will explore the requirements and strategies for funding energy efficiency initiatives within affordable housing development. The discussion will cover innovative financing models, successful implementation examples, and the evolving landscape of sustainable affordable housing. The panelists will provide insights into their experiences, highlighting challenges and solutions in the allocation of funds to enhance energy efficiency. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how financial resources can be effectively utilized to promote energy efficiency in affordable housing projects.
Sustainable Solutions presentation and speaker contact information
Nadia Mian, PhD (Senior Program Director, the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement; Lecturer, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University)
Sajan Philip (Principal, Cardinal Impact Advisors)
Victoria Rowe Barreca (Director, Capital Solutions and Partnerships, Enterprise Community Partners)
In recent times, faith-based organizations (FBOs) are increasingly entering the affordable housing development space, serving the housing insecure in the communities they call home. Those that make the leap must navigate the development process on top of their normal duties, all while remaining true to their organization’s mission and accountable to their congregation. This panel will lay out the resources and partnerships that help FBOs to do so, drawing on real-world successful projects as examples and illustrating how development team members, service providers, financing providers, and advocates in the community can be supportive partners to FBOs making the plunge.
Having Faith in Your Community presentation and speaker contact information
11:40am-12:45pm: Breakout Session II
John Chun (Board Secretary, Kensington Corridor Trust)
Nethaniah Josma (Program Manager, Urban League of Essex County)
Jasmin Velez (Development & Communications Manager, Kensington Corridor Trust)
This panel will explore innovative programs developed with the intent of helping residents in their communities with low or very-low incomes build generational wealth and community stewardship. Through homeownership and the development of community land trusts these panelists have worked to help members of their community have a voice in their housing and neighborhoods.
Eli Berk-Rauch (Research Lead, Fund for Guaranteed Income (F4GI))
Katie Calhoun, Ph.D (Assistant Professor, Ohio State University College of Social Work)
Rachel Mulbry (Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation)
Mimi Tanski (Research Coordinator, PHLHousing+ Project; University of Pennsylvania)
Guaranteed income is seen as one of today’s most highly debated, experimental, and promising social interventions – and one that is gaining traction in the field of housing and homelessness. In this session, we will explore a number of guaranteed income program models from across the country, that support low-income and homeless households. Panelists will share details about program design, outcomes, and their insights on the key components necessary for successful program implementations.
Incoming! An Effective Solution for Homelessness presentation and speaker contact information
Dean Dafis, Esq. (Director, Office of Eviction Prevention, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources)
Kayann Foster (Community Consultant, NJ Department of Community Affairs Advisory Board; Community Health Worker, PCDHS))
Meena Song (Deputy Chief Legal Specialist, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights)
This session will examine the critical need to address barriers to housing access and prevent evictions through tailored approaches. Attendees will explore best practices for creating housing lease-up and tenancy retention strategies that recognize individuals as unique and multifaceted, rather than applying rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions. By implementing flexible and person-centered practices, housing providers can more effectively support long-term housing stability and meet the diverse needs of their communities.
Putting Humanity Back into Housing presentation and speaker contact information
Qariah Lucas (Coordinated Entry Developer and Continuum Care Support, The County of Essex Division of Community Action)
Susan Milan (Director of Supportive Housing and Social Service Programs, Garden State Community Development Corporation (GSCDC))
Ms. Pringle (City of Newark’s Homeless Commission; Advisory Board Member, New Jersey State Division of Community Affairs; Executive Board Member, Essex County’s Continuum of Care and Comprehensive Emergency Assistance System; Founder & President, Pringle’s Pit Stop
While coordinated assessment was first introduced as a requirement tied to Continuum of Care funding, the need for a comprehensive coordinated entry system exceeds any one single funding source and has the ability to truly capture a community’s needs and shift a system to best meet those needs. Speakers will share approaches for a robust coordinated entry system, how their coordinated entry processes have led to system shifts, and next steps in evaluating system disparities.
Molly Anderson (Deputy Director, Northeast Region, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF))
Siree Morris (President, MCI Property Management and Construction, LLC)
Sajan Philip (Principal, Cardinal Impact Advisors)
The complexity of the affordable housing financing landscape can be challenging, particularly for BIPOC developers new to the field or upsizing their business. However, with enhanced creativity and increased collaboration between conventional banks, public agencies, CDFIs, philanthropic foundations, and other players in the space, a more equitable and supportive financing system is possible. Panelists will explore encouraging model programs that address these challenges and envision a financing system that is more comprehensive, intentional, and inclusive.
Adenah Bayoh (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Foya Development Group)
Jennifer Fassbender (Program Director, Social Determinants of Health, Reinvestment Fund)
Woo Kim, AICP, LEED AP, PP (Principal, Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT))
This panel will explore the principles, processes, and practices essential for building neighborhoods that foster well-being, equity, and inclusiveness—places where all can thrive. The conversation will highlight the importance of developing neighborhoods that provide equitable access to housing and other opportunities. Panelists will share innovative approaches and policy frameworks that support these efforts, focusing on the challenges and successes in creating inclusive, opportunity-rich environments.
12:45-1:15pm: Lunch
(Somerset Ballroom)
1:15-2:30pm: Lunch Plenary Panel
(Somerset Ballroom)
NJ State Senator Troy Singleton (Senate Majority Whip, Chairman of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee)
A. Donahue Baker, CPA (Real Estate Developer; Certified Public Accountant)
Susan Biegen (Community Consultant, NJ Department of Community Affairs Advisory Board)
Adam Gordon (Executive Director, Fair Share Housing Center)
Jaclyn Veasey (Mayor, Evesham Township, NJ)
2:45-3:50pm: Breakout Session III
Nicole M. Gillespie, PhD (Mayor, Township of Moorestown)
Ashton Jones, PP, AICP, CFM (Planning and Landscape Architecture Department Head, Remington & Vernick Engineers)
Chris Pugliese (Director of Housing Development, Affordable Housing Alliance)
Following up on the lunch plenary, this session will expound upon the process that drives the creation and implementation of municipal Housing Element and Fair Share Plans. Each panelist will share their first-hand experience with the process from their respective position as a planner, an elected official, and a developer. Join us to gain insight into the timeline followed and decisions made throughout the planning period and learn how you can step up and get involved as an advocate in your community.
Pamela Baker (Deputy Director of Homelessness Services, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ))
Chris Gorman (Senior Associate, OrgCode Consulting Inc)
Lasheema Sanders-Edwards (Regional Coordinator, Collaborative support Programs of NJ (CSPNJ))
Emergency shelters serve as the first line of defense against unsheltered homelessness and are critical for communities to have to ensure no one is sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation. The panelists will highlight the importance of low barrier, housing focused approaches to shelter to ensure that all households are quickly connected to permanent, safe, affordable housing.
Rethinking Shelter Models presentation and contact information
Carolyn Curry (Continuum of Care Director, Maryland Balance of State Continuum of Care)
Raquel Kooper (Associate, Homeless Planning Team, Monarch Housing Associates; Community Consultant, Morris County Advisory Board)
Suzanne Korff (Senior Policy Officer on Homelessness, State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD))
This panel will highlight the benefits of merged CoCs, specifically showcasing the Maryland Balance of State CoC. In this session, attendees will learn the process of becoming a Balance of State, the benefits of doing so, how to overcome the challenges of coordinating resources across counties, and how to leverage the merged structure to bring more funding into communities.
Balance of State CoCs presentation and speaker contact information
Joel Cantor, ScD, (Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for State Health Policy, Rutgers University)
Tristan Gibson (Program Manager, Office of Policy and Innovation, New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS))
Michelle Griffith (Chairperson, Ocean County Advisory Board; Community Consultant, Department of Community Affairs Advisory Board)
Nora Sullivan, MDiv, MSW (PhD Candidate, Rutgers University School of Social Work)
Jonathan Tew (Policy Director, Office of Policy and Innovation, New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS))
It is widely known that funding to provide housing navigation and housing support services is key to helping households move out of homelessness as quickly and smoothly as possible. The implementation of the Medicaid 1115 Waiver in New Jersey will provide access to these services for more households than ever before. This session will focus on the connection Medicaid and housing have had over the years, the gaps and how the new Medicaid Waiver will help address these gaps. Agencies will also take away the key eligibility criteria tied to their client’s being eligible for these services and for their organization to get paid to provide eligible services.
The Partnership Between Medicaid and Housing Services presentation and speaker contact information
Clarence Mujahid Ali (New Africa Development Corporation; Communications, Entertainment and Media Executive)
Thomas Yu (Executive Director, Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE))
Get ready to dive into the heart of community building in this lively panel! We’re shining a spotlight on why cultural representation and affordable housing are the dynamic duo that every cultural district needs. In this panel, we’ll reveal the benefits of revitalization that go beyond just another site. Our panelists come from a wide experience in developing a cultural district and will give insight to all the different stages of their journey. Expect fresh perspectives, inspiring success stories, and plenty of tips on how to get the whole community on board. If you’re interested in seeing neighborhoods not only survive, but thrive by using their cultural specialties, join us for an engaging, insightful, and fun discussion that could reshape the way we think about neighborhoods!
Creating Inclusive Cultural Districts presentation and speaker contact information