Building Resilient and Affordable New Developments in the West (BRAND West) Livestream: Western Governors Association

The Oxford Hotel –Minnesota Ballroom

Jack Waldorf, WGA Executive Director

This panel will address the growing need for “missing middle” housing – affordable, workforce-oriented housing types such as duplexes, townhomes, and small multi-family units that serve middle-income earners, including essential workers and professionals.  These individuals often fall between subsidized and market-rate housing, leaving them with limited options.  The discussion will highlight effective strategies and best practices for developing these units, with a focus on zoning reforms, state efforts, and collaborative public-private solutions to expand housing access.

• Sean Edging, Senior Housing Planner, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
• Mary Kyle McCurdy, Associate Director & Managing Attorney, 1000 Friends of Oregon
• Deborah Flagan, Vice President of Community Engagement, Hayden Homes
• Russell Grayson, Chief Operations Officer & Assistant City Manager, City of Bend

Mayor Melanie Kebler, City of Bend

Mayor Melanie Kebler will lead participants on a tour of three sites in Bend, showcasing creative approaches to affordable and middle-income housing development, attainable homeownership opportunities, and sustainable design:

• Crescita by RootedHomes – Net Zero community composed of five permanently affordable, single-family homes for households earning less than 80% of the area median income (AMI) and up to 120% AMI.
• Woodhaven Estates by Thistle & Nest – Development slated to include 133 townhome-style units to assist the local workforce in attaining stable housing and equity building through homeownership.
• NW Cottages by Habitat for Humanity – Net Zero, affordable housing project offering eleven cottages for families earning between 40% and 80% AMI.

Crux Fermentation Project

The Oxford Hotel – Minnesota Ballroom

Jack Waldorf, WGA Executive Director

This panel will analyze how to address persistent affordable, low-income housing shortages.  The discussion will center on ways to enhance federal housing program efficiency and foster better coordination across all levels of government and the private sector to maximize impact.  Panelists will identify actionable solutions to strengthen low-income housing initiatives.

• Moderator: Olivia Barrow Strauss, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorganChase
• Bryan Guiney, Oregon Field Office Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Andrea Bell, Executive Director, Oregon Housing and Community Services
• Ben Taylor, Vice President & Project Partner, Lincoln Avenue Communities
• Will Cooper Jr., Chief Executive Officer, WNC & Associates

Rural communities face distinct housing challenges, including barriers to developing infrastructure, limited financing, high levels of substandard housing, and a lack of capacity.  This discussion will focus on innovative partnerships, housing preservation and rehabilitation efforts, and strategies to align housing development with local workforce needs to foster thriving economies and build stronger rural communities.

• Moderator: Vikki Breese-Iverson, Representative, Oregon House of Representatives
• Seth Leonard, Program Manager, Center for Multifamily Housing Preservation, Housing Assistance Council
• Jill Rees, Deputy State Director, USDA Rural Development, Oregon
• Lisa O’Brien, Executive Director, Taos Housing Partnership

Homeownership is a cornerstone of financial stability and generational wealth in the United States, but it is increasingly out of reach for many Americans.  During this panel, speakers will discuss proposals to strengthen pathways to homeownership.

• Moderator: Kil Huh, Senior Vice President, Government Performance, The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Talia Kahn-Kravis, Assistant Director of Homeownership Programs, Oregon Housing and Community Services
• Kelly O’Donnell, Chief Research and Policy Officer, Homewise
• Jackie Keogh, Executive Director, RootedHomes
• Qualen Carter, Assistant Vice President of Oregon & Community Lending Manager, Umpqua Bank

This panel will explore the role of modular housing in efforts to bolster housing supply.  As a cost-effective alternative to traditional construction, modular housing has the potential to help increase supply and improve affordability.  However, the supply chain, restrictive regulations, public perception, and other factors have hindered its adoption.  This panel will consider how innovative modular housing solutions can be scaled to meet housing demand while contributing to broader housing and community development goals.

• Moderator: Dick Anderson, Senator, Oregon Senate
• Megan Yonke, Senior Housing Policy Advisor, Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis
• Max Wei, Staff Scientist, Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Bob Worsley, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, ZenniHome
• Margaret Van Vliet, Principal, Trillium Advisors

As extreme weather and natural disasters become more common, resilient building techniques can help mitigate risks to housing infrastructure and foster more sustainable communities.  This panel will analyze policies and investments to align land use planning with environmental considerations, promote adaptive housing development, and explore the effects on housing affordability.

• Moderator: Brian Rankin, Long Range Planning Manager, City of Bend
• Kirsten Ray, Senior Management Analyst, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Doug Green, Program Manager, Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire, Headwaters Economics
• Jeff Pemstein, Associate Vice President for Advocacy, Western Region, National Association of Home Builders

Lauren Cloward, WGA Senior Policy Advisor