The in-person conference took place on May 15-17, 2023 in Helena. It featured four
plenary sessions and 15 breakout sessions covering various housing and community
related topics concerning Montana. The four plenary sessions were recorded and you can click below to view them.
May 15, 2023 PLENARY:
25 Years of Homes Montanans Can Afford
To kick off this year’s conference we reflected on successes and lessons of housing work in Montana. 2023 is the 25th anniversary for NeighborWorks Montana and they brought veteran housing practitioners and advocates to the stage who have been part of building a collaborative, resilient, and effective affordable housing community.
Participants were also part of a collaborative history project, documenting shared milestones and successes, and looking to what’s next in our partnership to create opportunities for home.
May 16, 2023 PLENARY Sessions:
Planning + Zoning
Affordable housing advocates are increasingly turning to planning and zoning reform and advocating for funding for affordable and workforce housing as a tool at the local and state level for improving the housing supply side of the affordable housing equation. Hear why scholars and advocates are taking this stance, and the importance they think this has for the future of homes that are affordable.
Suggested reads before the session:
MiCASiTA Housing Design and Innovation
Building on the success of the RAPIDO model which was featured at the 2017 Montana Housing Conference, Come Dream Come Build is offering MiCASiTA, an alternative approach to providing housing to some of the hardest to reach and most challenged communities across the country.
MiCASiTA offers personalized design options that empower individuals through choice, while also improving sustainability and overall quality of housing. MiCASiTA Director, Leo Barrera will share their latest approach and how it could be put to work in rural and Native communities in Montana.
May 17, 2023 PLENARY:
Stories from the Tell Us Something Workshop
The closing plenary will featured storytellers sharing their true tales of housing and home. A good story has the power to inspire understanding, acceptance, and empathy within our community. Both veteran and new storytellers will grace our stage to close out this year’s conference!