Montgomery County has important affordable housing programs designed to serve households of all incomes.  What are they?  Who do they really serve?  This panel will look at the county’s current programs, including programs for seniors and those with the greatest needs, and talk about who these programs are serving and what they are accomplishing.   How can planning and land use help create new affordable housing opportunities?

• Chelsea Andrews, Executive Director, Housing Opportunities Commission
• Robert Kronenberg, Deputy Director, Montgomery County Planning Department
• Jeff Blackwell, Senior Vice President Real Estate Development, Victory Housing
• Somer Cross, Affordable Housing Programs Manager, Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Moderator: Scott Bruton, Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Panel Sponsored by Orlo

What are the latest trends in environmentally sound and energy efficient housing?  Can we make sure that housing is being built that is better for the environment and allows residents to live and work in mixed-use developments close to transit?  This panel will explore the latest innovations in design and planning that will make our future better.

• Shane Pollin, Founder & Principal, PS Ventures
• Lindsey Shaw,Chief, Energy and Climate Section, Department of Environmental Protection
• Steve Morel, Chief Investment Officer , Montgomery County Green Bank
• Tom Webster, Executive Vice President and Chief Planning and Performance Officer, WMATA

Moderator;  Ralph Bennett, Founding Principal, Bennett Frank and McCarthy Architects, Professor of Architecture University of Maryland, Purple Line Corridor Coalition, and AHCMC Co-Chair

Panel Sponsored by Comcast

Legislation that will set limits on allowable annual rent increases has been introduced in the Montgomery County Council  How do rent stabilization laws work?  What has been the experience in other communities?  Why is it needed?  This panel will discuss rent stabilization proposals.

• Will Jawando,  Montgomery County Council
• Kristal Oriadha, Prince George’s County Council
• Melissa Bondi, Policy Director, Enterprise Community Partners
• William Roberts, Chair and Treasurer, Renters Alliance

Moderator: Mary Kolar, Coordinator, Montgomery County Alliance

This panel will examine the lingering effects of past discriminatory practices, and look at future changes that can occur. The panelists will discuss racial covenants, redlining and other actions to perpetuate discrimination.  They will also consider actions that can be taken to overcome racism, bigotry, or ignorance.  

• Rev. Tim Warner, Senior Pastor, Emory Grove United Methodist Church 
• Hilary Chapman, Housing Program Manager, Metropolitan Washington, Council of Government 
• Bryan Greene, Vice President, Policy Advocacy, National Association of Realtors
• Rebeccah Ballo, Planning Supervisor, Historic Preservation Office, Montgomery County Planning Department

Moderator: Truist Bank, Senior Vice President, PNC Bank

Panel Sponsored by Truist

This panel will look at how Montgomery County’s affordable housing programs might change.  The discussion will consider program changes that are being considered, and actions that can be taken to help renters, homeowners, and persons with disabilities.  Be prepared for a discussion focused on innovation, creative ways of doing things, and change.

• Andrew Friedson, Montgomery County Council
• Shellon Fraser, Senior Director Of Lending, National Housing Trust 
• Jeff Dee, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland
• Rachel London, Executive Director, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

Moderator:  Claudia Wilson Randall, Executive Director, Community Development Network of Maryland

Panel Sponsored by GCAAR

Setting a new vision for future development and growth, Thrive 2050 creates a blueprint for future growth and envisions a county that is more affordable and racially and economically integrated.  Missing Middle housing is one element of designing a new way of development.  This panel will look at the vision of development and design in three communities, and hear how jurisdictions are addressing the challenge of unmet housing needs.

• Katie Cristol, Arlington County Board of Supervisors
• Tanya Stern, Acting Director, Montgomery County Planning Department
• John Hall, Director, Loudon County Department of Housing and Community Development
• Roger Lewis, Washington Post Reporter

Moderator:  Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth

Montgomery County has protections for tenants, and legislation has been introduced in the Montgomery County Council to alleviate pressures on the County’s most vulnerable renters.  Programs and initiatives to increase rental assistance protect against rent gouging, and provide access to homeownership will be discussed.

• Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Montgomery County Council
• Nicolle Katrivanos, Manager, DHCA Office of Landlord Tenant Affairs
• Carmen Castro-Conroy, Managing Counselor, Housing Investment Partnership
• Chris Gillis, Director, Policy & Neighborhood Development, Montgomery Housing Partnership

Moderator: Donna Walker, Executive Vice President, Edgewood Management

Panel Sponsored by: Edgewood Management

Making homeownership available to first-time homebuyers and to moderate income households takes innovative and effective financing programs.  Hear from experts about ways to make homeownership possible.  At the same time, the right type of financing and creative thinking is needed to make affordable multifamily housing projects possible.  Speakers will talk about their experience in developing high-quality affordable multifamily housing.

• Paul Bernard, President and CEO, AHC 
• Robert L.  Robertson, Senior Vice President, PNC 
• Kenneth Bacon, Managing Partner, RailField Partners
• Maddy Ciulu, Director, Single Family Housing Programs, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Moderator:  Trevor S. Tolbert, Senior Vice President, PNC Real Estate

Panel Sponsored by: PNC