This webinar will explain how planners can identify, address, and plan for housing affordability issues in their communities. The impacts of COVID- 19 have shone a light on housing instability in communities across Virginia. Families and localities face increasing economic uncertainty. Identifying affordable housing needs and strategies are essential tools for community planners, managers, and advocates as we move forward. Researchers from VCU’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis and experts from HDAdvisors will discuss:

1. How to identify current and projected housing needs through data and community knowledge.

2. Strategies to address housing needs: how to meet the needs of different communities and populations, and the importance of a regional approach.

3. Current trends in housing affordability: the ongoing impact of COVID-19, land use and zoning policy, and messaging.





Panelist

Michael MacKenzie

Mike is a researcher at VCU’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis and the Director of VCU’s Land Use Education Program. Mike has written or co-written analyses of future housing needs, impediments to fair housing choice, and economic impact in jurisdictions across Virginia. Mike has also served as a researcher at Housing Opportunities Made Equal and a Green Specialist at Community Housing Partners. Mike received a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from VCU in 2011.



Robert Adams



Bob Adams has a 35 year history in affordable housing in Virginia and nationally. He has held leadership positions in housing policy and in affordable housing development, including President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Director the Virginia Housing Coalition, and Executive Director of Housing Virginia. Bob was Director of Housing for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and served as Chief Operating Officer for Community Housing Partners, the largest non-profit housing development organization in the southeastern United States. He also worked for the Virginia Housing Development Authority in program development and design. Bob has worked closely with the public, non-profit, for profit and university sectors over many years. He has led many advocacy and education efforts over the past two decades, including the successful campaign to create and fund a state housing trust fund. Bob is a graduate of Yale University and holds a Master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jonathan Knopf



Jonathan is the Vice President at HDAdvisors, providing data collection and analysis for affordable housing non-profits across Virginia. He specializes in using GIS to create static and interactive maps that help tell the story of housing needs throughout the state. Jonathan has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he also earned undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies. He is a Richmond native, and volunteers with the Maymont Foundation to help build a GIS platform for their historic estate and arboretum.

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