CHAM’s 2021 Conference was a huge success! We had over 550 participants from all sectors of the affordable housing industry representing 40 states plus DC! 

For two days we thought together about how to build resilience and equity into sustainable affordable portfolios. We came away from the conference with a deeper understanding of our residents. And what it takes to create organizations that foster the evolution and growth of that understanding.

As promised, the sessions were a mix of practical guidance and bold ideas. The conversations were upbeat and often inspiring, and reframed many concepts: preservation as an opportunity rather than salvage; health as a lens to evaluate capital needs; and portfolio stressors as a focus on creative and proactive asset management

We were inspired to hear about policy as a door that may be opening for new affordable housing resources. At the Policy Plenary, Ethan Handelman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD said that this is the moment for change:

In terms of the charge HUD staff have been given, we are lifting up that housing is part of what makes America works. If you think about what is proposed in the Administration budget and the Build Back Better infrastructure proposal, this is a once in a generation level of investment. Now is the moment. A lot of what we do in asset management is take care of properties that were built 20-30-40 years ago and keep them going. We have been taking care of the old stuff but not the getting new. The agenda proposed will be putting resources now into making housing more available, affordable, greener, healthier and sustainable.

We'll leave you with Handelman's take on the importance of asset management and CHAM: 

I think of asset management as the beating heart of affordable housing. It is too often neglected until something goes wrong. Training and resources that comes from this event are essential to achieving mission