Claim OwnershipBeyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing
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Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing" is brought to you by the National Housing Conference (NHC), the nation's oldest and broadest coalition of affordable housing leaders in America. During our podcast, we will delve deep into America's pressing housing issues and get to know some of the people that have devoted their lives to seeking tangible, impactful, and achievable solutions. To learn more about NHC and become a member visit nhc.org. Be sure to like this podcast so you don't miss new episodes!
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In this week's episode, we welcome Wilfred N. Cooper, Jr., President and CEO of WNC, a pioneer in the affordable housing space having acquired over $20 billion in affordable rental properties to create and preserve more than 1,700 communities across 49 states. Cooper is also the co-founder and President of the Cooper Housing Institute, a private foundation that supports innovative research, public awareness initiatives, and community organizations with the goal of ending the housing affordability and homelessness crises in the United States. Cooper joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to dive into a wide range of issues—from the Cooper Housing Institute's recent research with the Terner Center and RAND Corporation on improving Housing Choice Voucher utilization, to the nation's escalating housing supply crisis and the role zoning, environmental laws, and financing barriers play in limiting production. They also examine how workforce-focused proposals like the DIGNITY Act and the CONSTRUCTS Act could help address construction labor shortages and support much-needed housing development.
In this week's episode, we welcome Janneke Ratcliffe, Vice President for the Housing and Communities Division at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization that has been providing data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity for more than 50 years. Over a career that spans industry, the nonprofit sector, academic research, and the federal government, her work focuses on increasing access to financial systems that foster economic security and prosperity. Ratcliffe joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the roots of America's housing crisis—from supply shortages and rising costs to barriers in Black homeownership—emphasizing that housing affordability is the strongest predictor of homelessness.
In this week's episode we welcome Liz Gehringer, President and CEO of Anywhere Franchise Brands, where she leads strategic growth, marketing, and operations for some of the real estate industry's most iconic names—Coldwell Banker Affiliates, Coldwell Banker Commercial, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, CENTURY 21, and ERA Real Estate. Gehringer joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss how Anywhere is reimagining the homebuying experience through innovation, expanding access to affordable homeownership, and using technology and AI to empower agents and enhance client relationships.
In this week's episode we welcome Christopher Tyson, President of the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), where he leads the organization's efforts to expand affordable homeownership by lending capital to revitalize vacant single-family homes, advocating for policy innovation and reform, and facilitating transactions that strengthen the single-family housing supply and stabilize neighborhoods. Since 2008, NCST has facilitated the transfer of more than 28,000 homes, and collaborated with local practitioners to stabilize neighborhoods and increase housing supply across the nation. Tyson joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss how NCST is addressing the affordable housing shortage while supporting local organizations to rehabilitate distressed homes and sustain long-term neighborhood stability. They also discuss the barriers to scaling rehabilitation nationwide and how NCST is working through partnerships and policy solutions to overcome them.
In this week's episode we welcome Laura Escobar, President of Lennar Mortgage, the lending arm of the nation's largest homebuilder, Lennar Corporation. With more than 37 years of experience in mortgage banking, Escobar has led at every level — from branch management to executive leadership — in both bank-owned and independent mortgage companies and currently serves as the 2025 Chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Escobar joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss the Senate's ROAD to Housing bill, FHFA's roll out of alternative credit scores, the growing challenges of homeowners insurance, and how AI is reshaping mortgage finance.
In this week's episode we welcome Sydelle Knepper, Founder and CEO of SKA Marin, a renowned firm recognized for its impactful contributions to real estate and community development across New York and beyond. With more than 30 years of experience, Knepper brings unmatched expertise in both the private and public sectors, having overseen more than a billion dollars in constructed project value. Knepper joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin discuss the future of affordable senior housing, the evolving demand, and the critical connection between housing and healthcare. Together, they examine the role of Section 8 vouchers and explore how public-private partnerships can help meet the growing needs of older adults.
In this week's episode, we welcome Michael Novogradac, Managing Partner of Novogradac, a national professional services firm with deep expertise in tax policy, affordable housing, community development, historic preservation, and opportunity zones. He is a recognized voice in national policy discussions, having testified before Congress and contributed insights to agencies like the U.S. Treasury and the IRS. His commentary is regularly featured in major outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Politico, CNBC, and NPR. Novogradac joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to explore the current state and future outlook of housing and community development tax incentives, while offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Opportunity Zones.
In this week's episode, NHC President and CEO David Dworkin talks with Amy Hovey, Executive Director & CEO of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and Robin Wiessmann, Executive Director and CEO of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, to discuss how housing finance agencies are addressing the affordable housing shortage in their states. Amy Hovey is the first woman to lead the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. With more than 20 years of experience across government, philanthropy, and the private sector, Amy has built a career rooted in community development and revitalization—from her work in Flint with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to her time in Washington, D.C. as senior vice president and CEO of the Center for Community Progress. Robin Wiessmann has a wealth of experience spanning public service and high-level finance. She previously served as Pennsylvania's State Treasurer and the state's Secretary of Banking and Securities. As a national infrastructure investment banker, Wiessmann was a Founding Principal and President of Artemis Capital Group, the first women-owned investment banking firm on Wall Street, and held positions at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.
In this week's episode, we welcome Shannon McGahn, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer, of the National Association of REALTORS®, which represents over 1.5 million members across every zip code in the U.S. involved in residential and commercial real estate. With nearly 25 years in government and public affairs, she has led major legislative efforts, from guiding the House Financial Services Committee during the financial crisis to helping pass the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as counselor to the U.S. Treasury Secretary. McGahn joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss how NAR is navigating Washington's political landscape to advocate for increased affordable housing supply and access to homeownership, while also working to address housing challenges at the local level.
In this week's episode, we welcome Mel Martinez, former U.S. Senator and former Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and an upcoming recipient of NHC's Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service at our annual Gala on Wednesday, June 11. As the first Cuban American elected to the U.S. Senate, Senator Martinez brought a powerful voice to issues like economic development, housing policy, and international relations. He also served as the 12th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, where he focused on expanding homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families across the country. Senator Martinez joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss his remarkable journey from public service to business leadership, his insights on bipartisan policymaking, and the future of housing in America.
In this week's episode, we welcome Renee Lewis Glover, Founder and Managing Member of The Catalyst Group, LLC, and an upcoming recipient of NHC's Housing Visionary Award at our annual Gala on June 11. A purpose-driven thought leader and accomplished business executive with deep expertise in housing affordability, Glover gained international recognition during her 19-year tenure as CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority, where she transformed the public housing model into a master-planned, mixed-income community model. Glover joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss building public-private partnerships that drive real change and shifting the national conversation on affordable housing and community development.
In this week's episode, we welcome Jim Tobin, President and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, which represents the largest network of craftsmen, innovators, and problem solvers, with over 700 state and local associations and more than 140,000 members. With more than 20 years of association leadership and housing policy background, Jim has played a key role in shaping legislation and addressing the industry's evolving challenges. Tobin joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss how tariffs and federal, state, and local regulatory burdens are impacting housing costs and supply, the role of immigration policy in addressing labor shortages, and the actions NAHB is taking to address these issues.
In this week's episode, we welcome Laura Arce, Senior Vice President for Economic Initiatives at UnidosUS, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. She is the architect of the Home Ownership Means Equity (HOME) Initiative, a multi-year movement using policy, research, communications, and community-based strategies to influence systemic change toward the goal of four million new Latino homeowners by the end of this decade. Arce joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to explore how the organization is evolving to meet the changing needs of the Latino community, from expanding homeownership and economic opportunity to tackling climate change and immigration reform.
In this week's episode, we welcome Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, the nation's only national civil rights agency solely dedicated to eliminating all forms of housing discrimination. She has been instrumental in shaping fair housing policy, helping create the CFPB's Office of Fair Lending and contributing to the Dodd-Frank Act. She has also led groundbreaking investigations that have brought justice to countless individuals impacted by discriminatory lending and housing practices. Rice joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to reflect on how history—particularly America's legacy of slavery and systemic discrimination—continues to shape housing access and equity today. She shares her early inspiration for civil rights work, the pivotal role of the Fair Housing Act, and the ongoing challenges of addressing inequality.
On February 11th, the National Housing Conference, in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Fransisco and the Council of the Federal Home Loan Banks hosted "Federal Home Loan Banks: Shaping the Future of Affordable Housing and Community Investment" at the National Press Club. This event offered a comprehensive exploration of the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) and their mission to provide liquidity to member financial institutions to support housing and community investment. In today's episode, we revisit the panel, "Unlocking Affordable Housing Solutions: How Member Banks Leverage Federal Home Loan Banks", which explores today's utilization of the FHLBanks, the various programs offered by them and the resulting impact on housing and community development. Panelists included Jill Cetina, Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, Aaron Klein, Brookings Institution, Joe Pigg, American Bankers Association, and Stockton Williams, National Council of State Housing Agencies.
In this week's episode, we welcome Bill McBride, Founder and Writer of the CalculatedRisk Blog, a resource widely cited by economists as a go-to for understanding housing trends. McBride has been breaking down housing trends since 2005, accurately predicting the housing bubble and market shifts long before they happened. Dubbed "the genius who invented economics blogging" by Business Insider, McBride joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss economic trends, housing policy, and the state of the housing market.
In this week's episode, we welcome John O'Callaghan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, which develops, finances, and advocates for affordable housing at scale that promotes racial equity and healthy communities where families thrive. As metro Atlanta's leading nonprofit producer of affordable homes for purchase, focused on closing the racial homeownership gap, O'Callaghan joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss policy changes and funding mechanisms needed to expand homeownership and the role of public-private partnerships in scaling affordable housing.
On December 4, the National Housing Conference hosted its Solutions for Affordable Housing convening at the National Press Club. The event brought together policymakers and affordable housing stakeholders to discuss tangible, impactful, and achievable actions to address the nation's most critical housing policy challenges. In today's episode, we revisit the panel, "Heirs' Property and the Preservation of Generational Wealth," which explores the historical and systemic barriers that have led to significant disparities in homeownership rates including issues around appraisal bias, redlining, and heirs' property that have led to vulnerabilities in property rights and wealth retention. Panelists included Abigail Suarez, JPMorganChase; Reggie O'Shields, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta; Maria Evans, Fannie Mae; Thomas Mitchell, Boston College of Law; and Natasha Moodie, Housing Assistance Council.
In this week's episode, we welcome Matt Cullen, Chairman of JACK Entertainment and a former executive who led gaming, real estate, and other initiatives for Dan Gilbert's Family of Companies. Matt's career spans decades of impactful leadership, from overseeing GM's 450-million-square-foot global real estate portfolio to spearheading Detroit's riverfront transformation and revitalizing urban landscapes in both Detroit and Cleveland. From revitalizing neighborhoods to tackling economic and environmental challenges, Cullen joins NHC's President and CEO to discuss Detroit's economic recovery and offers valuable lessons for other cities looking to build a stronger future.
In this week's episode, we welcome Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education, advocacy, and capacity-building organization dedicated to ending homelessness in the United States. A career veteran of homelessness and housing policy, she is recognized as one of the foremost experts on homelessness in the nation. Oliva joins NHC's President and CEO David Dworkin for a conversation on the state of homelessness in America exploring the biggest challenges, key opportunities, and real solutions that can drive meaningful change.
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