The City of Chattanooga will hosts its inaugural Housing Connections Conference on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Family Justice Center.
“As Chattanooga continues to grow and develop, we have to find ways to make room for everyone in our city,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke.
“Local government agencies, developers, nonprofit organizations, grassroots groups, and advocates need to work together to create the connections, opportunities, and options that provide more Chattanoogans with the stable housing they need and deserve.”
The Housing Connections Conference will bring together citizens, advocates, developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders for a thorough discussion of the City of Chattanooga’s housing agenda. The half-day conference will be the first in a two-part series that will include discussions of current housing programs in Chattanooga, specifics on the city’s new Affordable Housing Fund, and potential legislative actions that could expand affordable housing options, better serve our community’s homeless population, and stabilize Chattanooga’s neighborhoods.
“We want to increase awareness and empathy for the many different types of individuals and families who are seeking housing and how their circumstances shape their housing needs,” said Donna Williams, Economic and Community Development administrator. “We want to be a city that emboldens Chattanoogans and help break down the barriers that are preventing them from living the lives they want, and we recognize how important secure, safe, affordable housing is to achieving that goal.”
Additional topics of the conference include:
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Increasing understanding of how Chattanooga's housing system works, how we define affordability, the roles and responsibilities of the public and private sectors, and different types of housing that are emerging.
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Providing stakeholders with opportunities to learn more in-depth about a particular housing topic of interest, including
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Challenges and opportunities for Chattanoogans in the current housing market
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National and regional housing trends -- and what they mean for Chattanooga.
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The role of planning and zoning when building a strong city that offers housing options for all Chattanoogans.
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Existing and future governmental policies and their effects on housing.
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How you can actively engage in moving Chattanooga’s housing strategy forward.
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Creating a respectful and ongoing positive dialog between housing advocates, neighborhoods, housing providers, and government leaders.
“Trends in housing are changing at a rapid speed, across the country and here at home,” said John Bridger, Executive Director, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency. “We want to make sure everyone from our community members to nonprofit organizations and developers know and understand trends and policies that affect the state of our housing market in Chattanooga.”
Speakers and panels will be announced soon. Registration is free but required. Seating is limited to 100 participants.
To register and find more information click here.