Join Vital Communities and Keys to the Valley virtually for the Homes for All Summit: Exploring Housing Solutions for the Upper Valley on Friday, October 28, from 9 am to noon.

Do you serve on your town’s housing committee, planning commission, or zoning board? Do you volunteer with a local housing advocacy group? Are you interested in helping to solve the housing challenges in your community? If so, then this event is for you.

The Summit will include time to hear and discuss housing stories in action from the community, as well as breakout sessions to learn more about possible zoning, financing, infrastructure and land-use solutions for your towns.

Agenda

9:00-9:20 – Opening 

Welcome, Introductions, and Setting the Stage by Keys to the Valley and Vital Communities

9:20 – 10:15 – Roundtable 

Listen to local housing stories and share your own. Discuss the solutions and successes, as well as challenges and setbacks, that housing efforts are facing in the Upper Valley.

10:15 – 10:20 – Break 

10:20-11:15 – Breakout Trainings and Tactical Guidance Sessions 

IT IS NOT JUST HOUSING: When housing needs are looked at, the numbers are often boiled down to just units, yet residents are looking for more. Residents seek certain kinds of units in certain places in order to be adaptable and resilient for current and future households while maintaining their community’s unique character. Let’s talk about homes outside the box.

OR

SMALL ZONING CHANGES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE: Modest changes to zoning regulations can help to make housing production easier. Come and learn about possible changes, such as reducing lot size if sewer or water is available, allowing more units in villages, or streamlining the permit review process for the types of homes we desperately need.

OR

MORE UNITS, SAME BUILDINGS: Converting existing homes to 2, 3, or even 4 units, or co-living and Homeshare arrangements may be possible without triggering the need for additional septic permits and less costly than new construction. If the zoning allows them, these models can create housing opportunities where it looks like there are few.

11:15 – 12:00 – Closing

BUILDINGS, MONEY, LAND: WHAT TOWNS AND HOUSING GROUPS NEED TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS: When the planning is over, local housing groups look to implementation. And projects start with buildings, land, or money. Come learn about the ways people are finding these resources together. Strategies include tax stabilization, establishing a local housing fund, creating an ADU/Housing utility, affordable housing developer RFP for town-owned buildings/property, etc.