This year’s Housing Land Advocates (HLA) Annual Conference brought together planners, policymakers, and housing experts at Portland State University to learn about Oregon housing policy and the challenges of a rapidly-changing environment. Featuring a diverse lineup of experts and thought-provoking discussions, the event explored topics such as climate resilience, insurance challenges, and the intersection of housing and education.

Winterbrook Planning was proud to sponsor this important event, reinforcing our commitment to housing solutions.

Panel Discussions: Addressing Climate and Housing Challenges

Among the standout moments of the day was a panel moderated by Winterbrook’s very own Ben Schonberger, AICP: “Building Resiliency: Construction and Development Responds to Climate Change.” Ben facilitated a compelling discussion with Becky Steckler (ECONorthwest), Rita Haberman (Oregon DEQ), and Eric Foley (Earth Advantage) on how housing construction and development are affected by or adapting to climate challenges. The panelists explored energy retrofits, certification programs for greener buildings, and the importance of addressing embodied carbon in the built environment.

Other panels during the day tackled pressing issues such as the evolving landscape of state land use planning, insurance impacts of climate change on affordable housing, and how education advocates and housing professionals can collaborate to create resilient communities.

Keynote Highlights

The day opened with a  keynote from John D. Tovey III, Interim Executive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, with his presentation, “Housing, Land, Everything: A Tribal Perspective” and the conference concluded with a second keynote, “Funding After Fire: Helping Communities Rebuild After Tragedy,” delivered by Mary Heberling-Creighton of Oregon Housing and Community Services.

You can read more about the day’s events here.

Ed Sullivan Award was presented to Matt Serres, Allen Hines, and Ben Gurewitz

Earth Advantage’s Eric Foley