Southwest Michigan Regional Housing Partnership

Building Michigan Communities Conference
2026-05-12 00:00 - 2026-05-13 23:59 (America/Detroit) | Lansing Center, 333 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI, 48933, United States
The BMCC is where industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers come together to shape the future of affordable housing and community development in Michigan. Get ready to join 1,200+ housing financiers, developers, public officials, asset managers, policymakers, and advocates for two days of powerful networking, cutting-edge insights, and game-changing ideas.
Benefits of attending:
Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to the field, BMCC 2026 offers something for everyone. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our state’s largest gathering of housing and community development leaders, where you’ll:

Learn from the best in the industry and discover fresh perspectives that can help elevate your work.
Build your network with professionals across Michigan who share your passion for building stronger, more inclusive communities.
Get equipped with the tools, strategies, and partnerships you need to drive real change in your community.

We hope to see you May 12-13, 2026 at the Lansing Center!
Register Here

Disability and Race Discrimination Training
2026-04-30 15:00 - 17:00
Addressing race-based discrimination has been the driving force behind the beginnings of Fair Housing. Disability is consistently the most cited protected class in fair housing complaints. This training will cover these two topics in depth, including the historical underpinnings of Race and Disability as protected classes as well as how they shape fair housing today.

This training will be in-person at the Edison Neighborhood Association. There will be no virtual option.

Please RSVP Here

Edison Neighborhood Association | 816 Washington Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

The Cost-of-Living Crisis: Data-Driven Insights into Housing, Energy, and Essential Spending
2026-04-29 14:00 - 15:00
Economic uncertainty defines the current era for many U.S. households as they struggle with affordability and the challenge of stretching their budgets. The gap between rising costs and household resilience is especially large for families with lower incomes, as they face cost pressures relative to their income nearly three times greater than those of high-income earners. Understanding these disparities is an essential requirement for ensuring social equity and national stability.
This webinar brings together three expert perspectives to dissect the widening “affordability gap” through the lenses of consumer spending, housing policy, and energy costs. We will explore research that reveals how the expiration of pandemic-era supports and inflation has forced households with more limited economic resources to trade down on essentials while higher-income groups remain insulated. The discussion will also address the structural crisis in American housing, asking how we can realistically expand access to affordable homes. And finally, we will examine energy insecurity and the impacts of rising costs of utilities and transportation, highlighting how public perception and market shifts impact the distribution of modern infrastructure and affordability. Webinar participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of why the cost-of-living crisis is experienced so differently across the United States and what kinds of systemic steps are necessary to bridge the divide.
Sinem Hacioglu Hoke, Principal Economist, Federal Reserve Board
Sanya Carley, Vice Provost of Climate Science, Policy, and Action, Mark Alan Hughes Faculty Director, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Energy Policy and City Planning, University of Pennsylvania
Gregg Colburn, Marsha & Jay Glazer Endowed University Professor, Associate Professor, University of Washington
Institute for Research on Poverty -Register Here

Real Estate Development Core Boot Camp
2026-04-27 00:00 - 2026-05-01 23:59
Core Boot Camp | Muskegon | April 27–May 1, 2026
Boot Camp Overview
CEDAM’s Real Estate Development Boot Camp is a multi-part training program designed to give you the tools needed to develop affordable housing in your community. From rising construction costs to new funding sources, our training curriculum is updated each year to provide context around the current real estate development landscape in Michigan. We bring in experienced speakers from across the state and country to discuss practical applications of this work and help you create important connections.
We welcome anyone to register for this training who is interested in understanding the development process; however, the training curriculum is geared toward helping participants move their community-focused real estate development projects forward. We encourage all participants to bring a potential project (whether it be a potential site or building, or even just an idea) to the training.
Our target audience is:

Community members who are interested in revitalizing their community through small-scale development projects
Nonprofit housing development staff who may be seeking to actualize a range of housing and community development projects utilizing LIHTC or other sources

Our secondary target audience is:

City staff officials, community partners, foundations, or others who may be involved in the development process in some capacity

Whether you are new to the field or need a refresher on the basics, this training is for you! Those who join the training and do not have a potential project will have the opportunity to collaborate with those who do when we apply our learning through a final project pitch to funders.
This is a fast-paced, hands-on training program. Because capacity is limited for the training and demand is high, registrants must commit to being active participants and be available to attend all of part 1 and part 2 (one track only) dates.
If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Pearson, CEDAM’s real estate development manager.
Register Here

Retooling Redevelopment Authorities to Create Social Housing
2026-04-14 16:00 - 18:00
Retooling Redevelopment Authorities to Create Social Housing in Massachusetts
Cosponsored by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and the Cambridge Community Foundation.
This is a hybrid event. Please select in person or livestream attendance during ticket selection.
Redevelopment authorities were created in the mid-20th century to carry out urban renewal projects, made possible through federal and state programs. Although these programs ended or were scaled back due to often controversial projects, in Massachusetts redevelopment authorities still exist and retain significant powers, including eminent domain. This has led housing advocates and policymakers to explore whether redevelopment authorities might be uniquely positioned to help cities and towns promote new social housing—mixed-income developments in which the public sector holds a lasting ownership stake.
Susanne Schindler and Becca Heilman will present the findings of a new Joint Center for Housing Studies report, which examines how redevelopment authorities in Massachusetts might support social housing. The research for the report was funded by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, the Cambridge Community Foundation, and the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, which examines how redevelopment authorities in Massachusetts might support social housing. A panel of practitioners and officials, moderated by Chris Herbert, will discuss the report’s findings and its implications for communities across the state.
Join the livestream!

Living Together by Design: Housing to Connect Generations
2026-04-10 13:00 - 17:00
This half-day event hosted by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies will explore cutting-edge intergenerational designs. Intergenerational housing and communities—places that purposefully house people of all ages—offer powerful ways to reduce social isolation, improve affordability, and strengthen access to supports. While intergenerational living is not a new idea, recent innovative models provide valuable insights into housing designs and policies that build community, foster autonomy and interpersonal connections, and address affordability. This half-day event will bring together leaders from architecture, planning, homebuilding, environmental gerontology, public health, and related fields to explore cutting-edge intergenerational designs—from flexible homes that adapt to the needs of multigenerational families to larger communities that foster daily interactions and shared support. This half-day event will explore how thoughtful design, policy, and programming can shape more inclusive, resilient, and connected places to live.
Agenda
1:00 pm — Welcome
Chris Herbert, Managing Director, JCHS
1:05 pm — Overview: The Scale and Scaling of Intergenerational Living
Jennifer Molinsky, Director, Housing an Aging Society Program, JCHS
1:30 pm — Panel 1
Sharing a Home: The Multigenerational Household
Donna Butts, Senior Fellow and former Executive Director, Generations United
Noelle Marcus, Founder and CEO, Nesterly
Natasha Pilkauskas, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan
Jennifer Molinsky, Director, Housing an Aging Society Program, JCHS (moderator)
2:30 pm — Break
2:45 pm — Panel 2
Creating Community: Mutual Support in Intentional Intergenerational Housing
Jonathan Evans, Principal, MASS Design Group
Jenny French, Assistant Professor in Practice of Architecture, Harvard GSD; Partner, French 2D
Wandy Pascoal, Program Manager, Housing and Innovation Awards, Boston Society for Architecture
Rafi Segal, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism, MIT; Founder, RSA+U
James Stockard, Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design Curator Loeb Fellowship, Harvard GSD (moderator)
3:45 pm — Panel 3
Welcoming All Ages: Intergenerational Neighborhoods and Cities
Andrea Burns, Director, Age-Friendly Boston
Patricia Cafferky, Deputy Chief of Operations, Capital Investment, Office of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
Will Cohen, Zoning Reform Planner, City of Boston Planning Department
Kristin McSwain, Chief of Policy and Research, Office of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
Tim Love, Lecturer and Senior Fellow in Real Estate and Urban Planning, Harvard GSD; Founding Principal, Utile (moderator)
4:45 pm — From Ideas to Action: Next Steps for Intergenerational Housing
Jenny French, Assistant Professor in Practice of Architecture, Harvard GSD; Partner, French 2D
Tim Love, Lecturer and Senior Fellow in Real Estate and Urban Planning, Harvard GSD; Founding Principal, Utile
Jennifer Molinsky, Director, Housing an Aging Society Program, JCHS
Join the Livestream

Source of Income and Fair Housing
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:00
This training will go over Source of Income protections in Michigan. We will discuss what constitutes Source of Income discrimination as well as how typical supplementary income types intersect with these protections. Sometime will be given also to common subsidy classes, such as Rural 515 and LIHTC properties.
This training opportunity is through the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan.
Register Here

Housing Opportunity Conference
2026-03-16 00:00 - 2026-03-17 23:59 | Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD, 21202, United States
Network with housing industry professionals in breakout sessions, social events, and tours.
Register Here

The Housing TIF Guide: How Communities Can Establish Strong Housing TIF Policies
2026-02-26 10:30 - 12:00
The current affordable housing development landscape presents many challenges for new and experienced developers alike. Join CEDAM for a webinar series to discuss creative strategies and solutions aimed at tackling some of the barriers to development across Michigan. We’ll cover creating a clear Housing TIF policy in your community, building a strong workforce development pipeline, emerging construction options, and other ways developers can reduce costs through the development process to get your project across the finish line. This webinar series is for both municipal leaders and developers interested in bringing needed housing to their communities.
Join CEDAM for the first session in our Strategies & Solutions webinar series, The Housing TIF Guide: How Communities Can Establish Strong Housing TIF Policies. MSHDA’s Housing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) tool is one of Michigan’s newest resources that can support the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing in your community. This tool is a new asset for communities who did not have access to TIF previously. The tool allows the developer to capture future increases in property tax revenue generated by the development to help pay for costs like infrastructure, site preparation, and more affordable housing units. Developers are increasingly going to the municipality in which they’re working to receive guidance on their housing priorities and the TIF terms in which they’d be willing to provide. Many municipalities, however, have yet to design and publish guidelines that both support their housing goals and balances a healthy budget.
CEDAM has engaged with developers, municipalities, and other partners to help communities understand why the tool is needed to get deals done, outlined considerations for creating their own policies, and provided a step-by-step guide to establishing their own policy. Join us to learn about the guide and how you can utilize it for your own community to support projects that meet the housing goals you are trying to achieve.

Housing Funding and Asset Mapping
2025-11-17 09:45 - 15:30 | Van Buren Conference Center, 490 S Paw Paw St., Lawrence, Michigan, 49064, United States
Come learn about different housing funding opportunities! We will hear from MSHDA, MEDC, and Great Lakes Housing Services. The second part of the day will include an asset mapping workshop for our regional housing resources with the Office of Rural Prosperity.

Agenda
9:45-10:00 Welcome
10:00- 10:30 MSHDA Homeownership
10:30-11:00 MSHDA MI Neighborhood/Great Lakes Housing services
11:00-11:30 Michigan Economic Development Corporation
11:30-12:00 Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:30 Asset Mapping with the Office of Rural Prosperity

RSVP Here

To prepare for the second part of the day, please help us complete our Asset Mapping process with the Office of Rural Prosperity. This process will:

Identify areas of strength and capacity
Reveal service gaps and duplication
Inform funding decisions, policies and new initiatives

The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete. Take The Survey Here!

Place Matters Summit
2025-11-06 12:00 - 17:00 | The Rockford Corner Bar, 31 N. Main Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49341, United States
From revitalization funding and infrastructure strategies to the role of AI and analytics in local development, this year’s sessions bring together leaders from every corner of the region to exchange ideas and inspire action.
You’ll walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and new connections to help shape your community’s future. View the full agenda.
Sessions at a Glance:
Marketing Made Local – Marketing your community to attract development
Learn how communities can craft authentic, place-based marketing strategies that highlight local strengths and attract the right kind of development.
Acronym Alley – Navigating place-making programs
Take a walk down Acronym Alley to decode the many state and federal programs that support placemaking—learn what they mean, how they work, and how your community can benefit.
Housing TIF Ted Talks
In this fast-paced series of mini “TED Talks,” local communities share how they’ve leveraged Housing TIFs to drive development—highlighting successes, challenges, and key takeaways.

2025 National Rural Housing Conference
2025-11-04 00:00 - 2025-11-07 23:59 | Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
The 2025 National Rural Housing Conference takes place November 4–7 in Washington, DC, bringing together rural housing leaders, policymakers, and practitioners from across the country.
Conference activities will begin Tuesday, November 4 with morning association meetings and interest group gatherings, followed by an evening welcome reception to officially kick things off.
Throughout the week, we invite you to take part in high-impact plenary sessions, 40+ interactive workshops, and networking events that connect you with over 700 rural leaders, practitioners, and policymakers. You’ll leave energized, equipped, and ready to turn ideas into action.

Northwest Michigan Housing Summit
2025-10-27 00:00 - 2025-10-28 23:59 | Hagerty Conferance Center, 715 E Front St, Traverse City, MI, 49686, United States
The annual Northwest Michigan Housing Summit is an annual event presented by Housing North and its partners. Every year, we work to offer an event that helps expand opportunities for networking, discussions, and exchanges with partners and supporters on housing solutions for our communities. Each year, we feature several updates and presentations highlighting solutions and tools for housing being used in the region.
We just marked the 10th anniversary of the Housing Summit, bringing together housing advocates, community leaders, and innovators across the region for a decade. Themed “Innovation and Collaboration,” the 2024 Summit highlighted transformative strategies and collaborative solutions that will shape the future of housing in our communities. Each year, the Summit serves as a catalyst for new ideas, connections, and actionable insights that empower us to address the unique housing challenges in Northern Michigan.
Register for the Northwest Michigan Housing Summit

2025 Summit on Ending Homelessness
2025-10-20 00:00 - 2025-10-21 23:59 | Lansing Center, 333 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI, 48933, United States
Strength in Unity Navigating Change Together
What started as community-level action plans in 2006, aimed at increasing access to affordable housing and driving self-sufficiency, has evolved into a statewide infrastructure known as the Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness (MCTEH). One of the premier events coordinated via the MCTEH is the annual Summit on Ending Homelessness. It is intended to provide a forum for federal, state, and local government, service providers, funders, and people with lived experience to share best practices in ending homelessness. This two-day event allows time for networking and collaboration for case managers and administrators alike who are diligently working to improve the welfare of people in Michigan who are living in poverty and homelessness.
This year’s 2025 Homeless Summit focus is “Strength in Unity: Navigating Change Together.” The Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness and Michigan Network for Youth and Families are proud to unite with MSHDA to host this year’s event. MCTEH mission is to change the lives of those living in poverty and end homelessness. MNYF’s mission is to strengthen Michigan youth in need, their families, and communities by providing quality support, information, training, and advocacy for its members. Join us as we challenge one another, grow together, learn side by side, and impact our state.

Midwest Community Land Trust (CLT) Conference
2025-10-07 00:00 - 2025-10-09 23:59 | Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin, 22 S Carroll St, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
We are thrilled to announce that the 2025 Midwest Community Land Trust (CLT) Conference will take place in Madison, Wisconsin! This annual gathering brings together CLT professionals, housing advocates, and community leaders from across the Midwest to share knowledge, build connections, and advance the mission of permanently affordable housing.
Whether you’re a seasoned CLT professional, a nonprofit developer, or a new organization exploring the CLT model, this conference will equip you with actionable insights and connections to drive meaningful impact. With engaging workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, and networking opportunities, the Midwest CLT Conference is a must-attend for anyone passionate about equitable and
sustainable communities.
Register for the Midwest Community Land Trust (CLT) Conference

Transforming your Corridors with Housing
2025-09-25 03:00 - 16:30
Most municipalities in Michigan have a corridor that is replete with resources, including infrastructure and even transit, which are underutilized. Hear from communities that are retrofitting their tired corridors into thriving, people-centered spaces that create new economic opportunities, using housing to lead the charge.
Presenter: Ryan Kilpatrick, AICP, Flywheel
Register for Transforming your Corridors with Housing

Rural Real Estate Development Boot Camp- Marquette
2025-09-15 00:00 - 2025-09-19 23:59 | Superior Stay Hotel, 1301 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
CEDAM’s Real Estate Development Boot Camp is a multi-part training program designed to give you the tools needed to develop affordable housing in your community. From rising construction costs to new funding sources, our training curriculum is updated each year to provide context around the current real estate development landscape in Michigan. We bring in experienced speakers from across the state and country to discuss practical applications of this work and help you create important connections.
We welcome anyone to register for this training who is interested in understanding the development process, however, the training curriculum is geared toward helping participants move their community-focused real estate development projects forward. We encourage all participants to bring a potential project (whether it be a potential site or building, or even just an idea) to the training.
Our target audience is:
Community members who are interested in revitalizing their community through small-scale development projects
Nonprofit housing development staff who may be seeking to actualize a range of housing and community development projects utilizing LIHTC or other sources.
Our secondary target audience is:
City staff officials, community partners, foundations, or others who may be involved in the development process in some capacity
Whether you are new to the field or need a refresher on the basics, this training is for you! Those who join the training and do not have a potential project will have the opportunity to collaborate with those who do when we apply our learning through a final project pitch to funders.
This is a fast-paced, hands-on training program. Because capacity is limited for the training and demand is high, registrants must commit to being active participants and be available to attend all of part 1 and part 2 (one track only) dates.
Register for the Rural Real Estate Development Boot Camp in Marquette

Housing Forum: Collaboration for Housing Equity
2025-09-11 10:00 - 17:15 | Fetzer Center, 2251 Business Ct, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, United States
Join the Kalamazoo Continuum of Care for presentations from people working across the region in all roles in the homeless service sector, including grassroots organizations, advocates, policymakers, program and system leaders, frontline workers, philanthropic partners, developers, people with lived expertise of homelessness, researchers, and others.
Example Sessions

Southwest Michigan Perspectives: Innovative Approaches from Rural and Urban Service Providers
Board Match: Speed Connections for Housing Impact Session
Supporting Transition from Homelessness – Disability Network of Southwest Michigan
Trauma Informed Care- Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
Street Medicine: Working at the Intersection of Housing and Health – WMED
Shared Walls, Shared World: What a One-Week Hotel Shelter Project Taught Us
Hope & Healing for Houseless Youth: Building Resiliency Through Youth Development – KYDNET

Lunch Session
Housing Security and College Success: How Eviction Derails Parents in College and Ways to Change That Reality.
Based on collaborative work between Princeton Eviction Lab and New America’s Parenting Student Initiative, this session walks through why parenting students are such a critical population in higher education today, why housing security is vital to their success, and how lessons from parenting students can be applied to all students facing basic needs insecurity. We will explore who parenting students are as a group, what the data we have shows about how harmful eviction and housing insecurity is for parenting students’ success in college, and the cross-sector work needed to help change this narrative. Attendees will leave with new knowledge, ways to think about cross sector partnerships, and hopefully be inspired to work on local housing solutions to help parenting students succeed.
Please register for this event here

Inclusive Housing & Universal Design Workshop Creating Solutions
2025-09-11 09:00 - 13:00 | Troy, 1709 John R Rd, Troy, Michigan, 48083, United States
Join Disability Network Eastern Michigan and the Michigan Association of Planning for a hands-on workshop that unites architects, interior designers, builders, developers, code officials, housing advocates, and people with disabilities. We’ll co-create kitchen and bathroom design templates that improve accessibility.
Why Attend?

Shape the future of accessible housing through collaboration.
Learn from nationally recognized facilitators in universal design and community planning. S
hare your lived experience and professional expertise in a solution-driven setting.
Contribute to a pattern book of design templates that will be shared statewide.

Register for the hands-on workshop in Troy

ADU Bootcamp
2025-08-22 08:00 - 17:00 | Grand Rapids Development Center, 1120 Monroe Ave. NW, 3rd Floor, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
Your one-day crash course on backyard housing, tailored for anyone shaping our built environment: investors, homeowners, designers, lenders, real estate agents, appraisers, city leaders, and developers.
Join us Friday, August 22nd from 8am – 5pm at the Grand Rapids Development Center. Hosted by MI Back Yard Build
Register for the ADU Bootcamp with Back Yard Build

Community Champions Summit
2025-08-12 00:00 - 2025-08-13 23:59 | DoubleTree by Hilton Lansing, 111 N Grand Ave, Lansing, United States
Join us to explore the different programs, policies, and possibilities that can advance economic prosperity, housing security, and a stronger community economic development field. New this year, CEDAM’s annual QAP & LIHTC Summit will be incorporated into the robust housing track at the Community Champions Summit. We will be incorporating the discussions and sessions that you anticipate every year, including an overview of LIHTC and other MSHDA programs, changes to the new 2026-27 QAP, and a conversation about the status of the debt and equity markets.
In addition to these core sessions, we’ll be offering more than ten additional housing related sessions throughout the conference. Some of those are:
• Unlocking Permanence: Aligning HOME Program Strategies with Community Land Trusts for Lasting Affordability
• Single Family Housing and Tenant Ownership through LIHTC and Post-Compliance LIHTC Conversion
• Navigating Development Project Returns & Capital Stacks: A Practical Guide
• Construction & Property Management Considerations
• A tour of the recently completed Walter French building
• And more!
Register for the CEDAM’s Community Champions Summit

Community Engagement for Housing: Changing Hearts and Minds, Webinar
2025-07-16 15:00 - 16:30
Many planners find that when it comes to housing projects, the traditional engagement process does not draw a representative section of the community and, as a result, does not produce recommendations that meet the community’s needs, or the goals expressed in the adopted master plan. This session identifies the groups who are consistently struggling to find housing across the state, helping communities design engagement practices that can better reach them. It also explores ways to bring housing advocates, and their deep knowledge of housing needs and proven solutions, into the public conversation.
Online reference book is included.
This is a virtual event.
Presenter: Leah DuMouchel, AICP, Michigan Association of Planning
Register for the Community Engagement for Housing Webinar

Use by Right and Administrative Approvals Webinar
2025-06-25 15:00 - 16:30
Permitting uses by right and implementing administrative approvals can connect a community vision that is based on meaningful community engagement and articulated in a plan with more appropriate zoning review processes, creating more opportunities for investment and growth. This session discusses ways to shift responsibility for administrative development decisions toward the administrative professionals, freeing up elected and appointed officials to set policy and develop broad guidance while reducing gratuitous friction in the review process.
Presenter: Amy Vansen, AICP, Michigan Association of Planning
Virtual Event
Register for the Use by Right and Administrative Approvals Webinar

2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference
2025-06-09 00:00 - 2025-06-11 23:59 | Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, MI, 49683, United States
Over the past 20 years, this conference has been the driving force behind positive change in rural Michigan. Connect with fellow leaders, learn from expert speakers, and discover actionable strategies to revitalize your community. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Kick off the conference Monday afternoon with innovative ideas and community-driven projects with the top 10 communities presenting their pitch for the Consumers Energy Put Your Town on the Map Competition.
On Tuesday, engage in a full day of sessions, and conclude with valuable insights on Wednesday.
Explore critical topics such as downtown revitalization, housing solutions, and community economic development strategies.
Reflect on two decades of progress and look forward to a future of continued growth and collaboration with a 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Please contact Shawn Hunter (hunter@cedamichigan.org) if you have any questions.
