On August 23-25, the Arizona Department of Housing hosted its 14th Annual Arizona Housing Forum at the Scottsdale Princess.  The Arizona Housing Forum continues to be the premier statewide affordable housing conference in Arizona and has become a venue for elected official and policymakers, industry professionals, housing developers, advocates, and community leaders from across the state and nation to address the challenges and opportunities facing the state’s housing market. Attendance at this year’s forum was at an all-time high.

This year’s keynote speaker, former Congressman J.C. Watts, shared his efforts in prison reform, knowing his message will help bring awareness and education to the affordable housing community on the importance of reducing recidivism and the foundational role housing plays for prisoners returning to our communities. The talk was timely, as the Arizona Department of Housing is participating in Governor Ducey’s efforts to reduce recidivism.

Through this year’s Imagine theme, the Department celebrated its 15-year anniversary with a look back at what it has accomplished so far and challenged its partners to imagine what we can all do together to achieve a better Arizona as we move into the future.

Boston Capital’s David Gasson provided attendees with a Capitol Hill briefing on federal housing legislation and possible changes to the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Jim Rounds, President of Rounds Consulting Group, delivered an informative economic forecast briefing during the Friday morning plenary. The Forum offered 20 different sessions offering information on a wide variety of topics of interest to the housing and community development advocates in attendance.

On Friday we honored the 2017 Housing Heroes – for more information on those honors, please visit the ADOH 2017 Brian Mickelsen Housing Hero Award Recipients page.