8:30 a.m.

 Opening Plenary - Ed Jennings, HUD Southeast Regional Administrator, serves the eight states in the Southeast Region including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  As Regional Administrator, Jennings leads more than 1200 employees in the largest HUD region in the nation encompassing over 64 million people and 380,000 square miles. Jennings also serves as HUD's liaison to mayors, city managers, elected representatives, state and local officials, Congressional delegations, private and non-profit affordable housing developers, stakeholders and customers. He will oversee the delivery of HUD programs and services to communities and evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness. Jennings is one of 10 regional directors in the United States.

"I am both humbled and excited at the prospect of leading one of the most dynamic regions in the nation especially during these most challenging times," said Jennings. HUD's role in the daily lives of literally millions is increasing as are our efforts to work seamlessly with other federal, state and local agencies to make a difference in communities throughout the region and nation."

"Ed's decision to join us at HUD could not have come at a better time," said Sims. "He provides the strong vision, leadership and innovation coupled with real world experience that the Obama Administration and HUD are looking for especially in a region as diverse and challenging as the Southeast. I have full confidence that he will be able to develop strong synergies of effort among those partners and stakeholders that are so critical to improving and transforming HUD and our ability to serve our communities."

A fifth generation Floridian and son of the former Mayor of Gainesville, Jennings served as a State Representative from 2000-2006 where he worked to expand access to health care, employment, transportation, and was a staunch affordable housing advocate to underserved communities. As founder of Jennings Development Group, Inc., he helped to develop hundreds of units of affordable housing and to promote economic and community development in Gainesville.

Prior to accepting the appointment as HUD Regional Director, Jennings served in the Florida House of Representatives. Throughout his legislative career, he served on various committees including the Vice Chair of Community Colleges and Workforce Development; Commerce Council; Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee; and the Insurance Committee. He also served as the Chair of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators and the board of directors for the National Conference of Black State Legislators.

Jennings founded his development firm 12 years ago, which has become an economic vehicle for revitalizing East Gainesville. As a business leader seeking to make a significant impact in his community, Jennings served on the boards of the: Alachua County Public Schools Foundation, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Builder's Association of North Central Florida and African American Accountability Alliance. He has garnered numerous civic and professional honors for his community and legislative contributions. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from the University of Florida, where he is also served as President of Florida's most prestigious leadership honorary, Florida Blue Key.

10:30 a.m.

Public Policy Plenary - Housing and the Economy; and the Future of Housing Programs

The Public Policy Plenary will focus on this key question: Why isn’t the legislature appropriating housing trust fund money for housing?

The Plenary will be moderated by Mark Hendrickson with panelist: Todd Green, Vice President in the research division at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Nicholas Johnson,Vice President for State Fiscal Policy with the D.C. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Ken Pruitt, St. Lucie County Property Appraiser and former Florida Senate President; and Len Tylka, past president Florida Home Builders Association and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Chairman.

This panel of national and state experts will examine the state of Florida’s real property and labor markets, state fiscal policies, economics, policy and political considerations to help us understand the answer to this question. With a better understanding of why our Housing= Jobs message has not won the day for us, we intend to chart a more successful course so that housing monies will indeed be appropriated for housing in the future.

Housing = Jobs. That’s how the Sadowski Affordable Housing Act got passed in 1992. Florida’s construction industry was in a slump. Local governments needed funds to incentivize the private sector; this was the way to implement the housing element of the comprehensive plans and provide for housing everyone, including those hardest to house, such as the very lowest of the paid workforce like farmworkers and those who may no longer be able to work such as the elderly and disabled.

The Sadowski Act created a dedicated revenue source for affordable housing in Florida and over the first decade of its implementation earned acclaim as the national model for creative housing programs that stood the tests of accountability, productivity, and a 6:1 return on public sector investment. So when a Governor, House, and Senate agreed to make “Jobs, job number one” and “Get to Work,” housing advocates were justifiably optimistic that the housing trust fund monies might be appropriated for housing—putting some 15,000 Floridians to work while infusing over $1.4 billion in economic activity. But the 2011 session was the first time since the inception of the Act in 1992 that not a penny of the Sadowski Housing Trust Funds was appropriated for housing.

This is sure to be the number one policy issue for nearly all of the more than 600 housing professionals who attend the Florida Housing Coalition’s statewide annual conference. We look forward to your participation.

2:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

FAHRO and FRA

Come together with your colleagues in low income and affordable housing to discuss current issues and opportunities that will help to improve low income and affordable housing and community services. We will also focus on financial opportunities in the recession- acquiring, rehabilitating, and preserving affordable housing using CRA funds. Bring your creative ideas, current issues, and questions and brainstorm with your peers to get new direction and inspiration.

Foreclosure Counselors

‘Calling all foreclosure counselors:’ This caucus is for counselors to discuss key foreclosure prevention topics, while networking with other counselors. Join a roundtable discussion with other counselors and staff from Florida Housing, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and bankers to talk about best practices, challenges, current trends and administrative practices. The caucus is also a forum to discuss the counselor’s role in the Hardest Hit program for foreclosure prevention.

Si Se Puede. Wi Nou Kapab. Yes We Can! Raising Money with Gusto in Challenging Times (Fundraising for Nonprofits)

Join Marjorie Fine, noted grantmaker and fundraiser and your colleagues for some learning, sharing, discussing and cheerleading on finding the pleasure and excitement in fundraising- even and especially in tough economic times. Whether you are a new or seasoned fundraiser, paid staff or volunteer, comfortable or nervous about asking for money - this session is for you. We will explore attitude adjustments about money, where to find hidden major donors, all the ways you can work with foundations and any other fundraising issues we come up with together. Come with your questions, come ready to laugh, come ready to share and let your hair down but most of all…come!

Habitat for Humanity Caucus

All Habitat for Humanity affiliates present at the conference are invited to meet together to discuss pertinent state issues: CCTCP; the State Support Organization; the latest Habitat for Humanity International news/programs; advocacy efforts; new Energy Star requirements; ReStore marketing; and other topics as desired.

SHIP Administrators' Caucus

Fiscal Year 2011-2012 will prove to be an interesting year for SHIP Program Administrators. After FHOP in 2009-2010 and a year of no SHIP funding in 2010-2011, local governments have again received funds for 2011 with restrictions on activities involving new construction. The caucus provides an opportunity to talk to Florida Housing Finance Corporation staff, Florida Housing Coalition staff and SHIP program administrators from across the state. After an open discussion on statewide issues, concerns and advocacy, you will have an opportunity to sit with local SHIP administrators from your region to discuss best practices, exchange information on local activities, find out what works, and discuss how other local governments are complying with the program requirements. This year, Kevin Tatreau, Director of Multifamily Development Programs with Florida Housing Finance Corporation, will stop in to obtain input on how local governments make decisions on affordable multifamily locations under the Universal Cycle Application.

Utility Companies and Green Partners

Does Florida have an effective system and coordination framework in place to include all stakeholders such as our major utility companies, local jurisdictions, and the state in addressing affordable green housing via incentives, regulations, policies, programs and guidelines, especially in terms of energy conservation and efficiency? Are we further prepared to incorporate federal stimulus funding as effectively as possible in affordable energy efficient, green housing? This caucus will provide a forum to discuss these questions and more.