Conference addresses affordable housing

The 2004 Wisconsin Housing Conference on Wednesday-Thursday, May 19-20, will focus on preserving affordable housing, and issues related to quality housing and neighborhoods in Wisconsin.

The conference, titled “Preserving Our Affordable Housing Stock: New Challenges in a New Century,” will feature experts who have devoted thought and research to affordable housing issues, as well as government officials and professionals who specialize in housing.

The conference will be held at the Fluno Center for Executive Education. Two national experts will offer their perspectives on preserving affordable housing: Michael Bodaken, president of the National Housing Trust, and Conrad Egan, executive director of the National Housing Conference.

The conference is co-sponsored by the UW–Madison Center for Urban Land Economics Research, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Division of Community Development.

Up for discussion is the fact that hundreds of thousands of existing affordable housing units are at risk of loss. In tight rental markets, conversion to market-rate use threatens the already scarce stock as use restrictions and subsidy contracts for privately-owned, federally-assisted multifamily housing units expire. In weak markets, disinvestment and deterioration pose the greater threat.

On both a state and national level, preserving existing affordable housing plays a critical role in creating mixed-income communities and alleviating the pressures of displacement for low- and moderate-income residents. In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle has recently initiated a task force on affordable housing preservation aimed at addressing this issue.

From tax-related issues to broader policy initiatives, the Wisconsin Housing Conference will address the many complex challenges and topics involved with affordable housing preservation today, both in Wisconsin and nationally. Cost to attend the dinner on Wednesday, May 19, is $40. The cost to attend the conference on Thursday, May 20, is $80.

To receive a conference brochure or for more information, contact Lee Gottschalk at (608) 265-2032, email her at lgottschalk@bus.wisc.edu. Brochures can also be or downloaded.