NLIHC’s 2018 Housing Policy Forum: Building the Movement will take place in Washington, DC, March 19-21, 2018, and the 2018 Housing Leadership Award honorees - Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Matt Desmond, and Lisa Hasegawa - will be recognized for their contributions to affordable housing at NLIHC’s annual Housing Leadership Awards Reception on the evening of March 20 (separate ticket is required). Register for these events here and make a contribution to celebrate our 2018 honorees here. 
The Policy Forum will provide a wide array of opportunities to engage with affordable housing advocates, thought-leaders, policy experts, researchers, housing providers, low income residents, and leaders from Capitol Hill and the administration about building the affordable housing movement in 2018 and beyond. The Forum will explore the state of fair housing in America on the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act; the threats and opportunities for affordable housing in 2018 and beyond; the keys to state, local, and resident-led organizing; making housing an issue with the media; and effective story-telling for affordable housing. The Forum will also feature sessions on a national campaign to expand the affordable housing movement with non-traditional allies; non-partisan voter registration, engagement and mobilization prior to the 2018 elections; getting candidates for public office to address affordable housing in their campaigns; using dynamic research to change the story and influence policy solutions; ensuring housing protections for LGBTQ individuals; housing the formerly incarcerated; and others. There will also be opportunities to engage with leaders and staff at HUD and in Congress on affordable housing challenges, solutions and priorities.
A limited number of shared-lodging hotel scholarships will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to low income residents who are NLIHC members and who pay their own Forum registration fee (“self-pay participants”). Scholarships will be awarded to ensure a broad geographic distribution. A special session for low income residents will be held on the morning of March 19. To apply for a scholarship, send an email expressing interest to: jsaucedo@nlihc.org
NLIHC’s 2018 Housing Leadership honorees will be:
- U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who will be recognized for her years of leadership in Congress, unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of the lowest income people in the U.S., and steadfast support for federal affordable housing and homelessness programs;
- Dr. Matthew Desmond, MacArthur Genius awardee and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, who will be honored for his groundbreaking work to elevate the need for affordable housing for the lowest income people in America; and
- Lisa Hasegawa, former executive director of the National Coalition for Asian and Pacific American Community Development and NLIHC board member, who will be celebrated for her years of dedication to affordable housing on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Make a contribution to celebrate NLIHC’s 2018 Housing Leadership Award honorees today.Your donation in their honor will be recognized at the reception on March 20, 2018. The Housing Leadership Awards Reception is NLIHC’s only fundraising event, the proceeds from which help advance NLIHC’s mission of achieving socially just policies that ensure the lowest income people in America have decent, affordable homes.