Housing Institute 2022
Now in its 15th year, MHP's Housing Institute is geared toward officials, volunteers and employees in suburban and rural communities, and gateway cities. This intensive two-day training engages participants in discussion and problem-solving activities related to the development of affordable housing in Massachusetts.
The title of this year’s event is “Complete Neighborhoods: It all starts with home” and many of the sessions focused on creating affordable housing that is closer to transit and our daily needs, and how addressing economic needs, the climate, housing supply, transportation, and equity are all parts of a sound housing policy. Topics covered include:
- Housing policy & climate policy
- Links between health & housing
- Community engagement strategies
- Approaches to addressing the need for housing diversity
- Innovative wastewater solutions
- Launch of a new density tool from MHP’s Center for Housing Data
The agenda can be found here.
Day One: Tuesday, June 7, 2022
The theme of the first day was, Understanding Intersections of Housing, Health, and the Environment.
Session 1: Why housing policy is climate policy featured Dr. Tracy Corley Director of Research and Partnerships at the Conservation Law Foundation, Nate Kelly a principal planner at Horsley Witten & Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Executive Director of Abundant Housing MA.
Session 2: Exploring neighborhood-level density (Tom Hopper & Matija Jankovic, Massachusetts Housing Partnership's Center for Housing Data)
Session 3: Healthy communities start with healthy homes (Barry Keppard, Metropolitan Area Planning Council & James Fuccione, MA Healthy Aging Collaborative.
Watch the recording of day 1.
Day Two: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
The theme of the second day was, Building Homes, Infrastructure and Community Engagement.
Presentation of Complete Neighborhood Partnership Awards
Session 1: Building a Community Engagement Strategy featured Doris Ann Sweet and Lynn Weissberg, leadership team members at Engine 6, and Andrew DeFranza, executive director of Harborlight Community Partners.
Presentation of Housing Hero Awards by Rus Lodi and Lisa Braxton, MHP
Session 2: Wastewater 101 for Residential Development featured Joseph D. Peznola, PE director of engineering at Hancock Engineering, Maren Toohill, AICP, Town Planner Littleton, and Rio Sacchetti a developer with Pennrose.
Session 3: Multi-Family Housing for Your Community featured Amy Dain of Dain Consulting, Gail Sullivan the managing principal of Studio G Architects.