Housing Leaders Speaker Series
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Over the last couple years, America’s housing supply shortage has only grown more acute. Housing costs have risen quickly, outpacing wage growth and putting affordable housing out-of-reach for far too many Americans. To examine the causes behind the nation’s housing affordability crisis and explore potential solutions, BPC’s J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy is highlighting the work of housing leaders from the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. In each event in this series, you will hear from individuals hailing from across the political spectrum who recognize housing policy as one of the most powerful tools to drive economic prosperity and who share our aspiration that every American family have a safe, decent, and affordable home.
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What’s Next for FHFA: A Fireside Chat with Acting Director Sandra L. Thompson
March 31, 2022
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is responsible for oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. While performing this oversight function, FHFA plays a vital role in promoting access to mortgage credit and protecting the safety and soundness of the nation’s housing finance system. Decisions made by FHFA can also impact stated Biden administration goals, from increasing the supply of affordable homes to addressing persistent racial and ethnic disparities in housing. This fireside chat featuring then-Acting FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson explored her vision for the agency and its role in advancing housing affordability.
Featured Participants
Fireside chat with:
Sandra L. Thompson
Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency
Moderated by:
Dennis Shea
Executive Director of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, BPC
@DennisCShea_
A Fireside Chat on Housing Affordability with Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox
May 24, 2022
Utah’s population has grown by nearly one million people over the past decade. Yet, like most states in the nation, homebuilding has not kept pace, resulting in an acute shortage of affordable homes for rent and sale, record price increases, and growing housing cost burdens, particularly on the lowest-income families.
BPC’s J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy hosted Governor Spencer J. Cox for a virtual fireside chat to discuss his administration’s response, ideas to advance housing affordability, and vision for Utah. The conversation focused on how the public and private sectors can work together to boost the supply of housing and what both political parties can do collectively to ensure every family has a safe, decent, and affordable home.
Featured Participants
Fireside chat with:
Gov. Spencer J. Cox (R-UT)
@GovCox
Moderated by:
Dennis Shea
Executive Director of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, BPC
@DennisCShea_
Fireside Chat with Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford
November 3, 2022
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization operating across all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 70 countries across the globe. Habitat works towards a future where everyone has access to decent and affordable housing regardless of income or zip code. In addition to its well-known home construction program, it also plays an important role in neighborhood revitalization, mortgage financing, and public policy advocacy. This fireside chat featuring Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford explored how the organization is working to enhance housing affordability for families in the U.S. and worldwide.
Featured Participants
Fireside chat with:
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity International
@JReckford
Moderated by:
Dennis Shea
Executive Director of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, BPC
@DennisCShea_
Fireside Chat with USDA Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small
March 14, 2023
In her role at USDA Rural Development, Under Secretary Torres Small oversees the department’s housing and economic development loan and grant programs, which provide critical funding and financing to underserved and under-resourced rural communities around the country. In fiscal year 2021, this support totaled over $24 billion in obligations for home construction, purchases, and repairs and $1.5 billion to help low-income families afford rent. With other programs to expand high-speed internet access, upgrade water and wastewater systems, and more, USDA possesses some of the most powerful tools to promote housing affordability and drive economic prosperity in rural places across America.
This conversation explored the Under Secretary’s vision for USDA Rural Development and how USDA’s programs have the capacity to lift up rural communities.
Featured Participants
Fireside chat with:
Xochitl Torres Small
Under Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Moderated by:
Andy Winkler
Director, Housing and Infrastructure Project, BPC
@andybwinkler
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