Agenda

Moderator:
Jessica Perry, Development Director, PHFA

Panelists:
Andrea Biller, Supervisor of Financial Operations, PHFA
Ken Bobb, Director of Technical Services PHFA
Chrissi Gerbig, Manager of Tax Credit Program Allocation, PHFA
Vanessa Murphy, Manager of the 4% Program, PHFA
Beth Silvick, Manager of Multifamily Coordination, PHFA

Whether you are a new multifamily developer or have worked with PHFA’s programs for years, we encourage you to attend and learn helpful hints about applying for and using PHFA’s multifamily housing programs. In this session, the multifamily team will discuss:

• Applying for 9% credits and closing awarded developments

• Utilizing the tax-exempt bond program

• Following architectural submission guidelines

• Construction processes and procedures

• Cost-certification review and 8609 issuance

• HOME ARP – loan and construction process

Co-Presenters:
Wendy Gessner, Director of Commonwealth Cornerstone Group, PHFA
Jason Penn, Principal with Baker Tilly Capital

This is your opportunity to learn from experts! Join Wendy Gessner, Director of Commonwealth Cornerstone Group, and Jason Penn, principal with Baker Tilly Capital, for an informal, informative and interactive Q&A session. In this session, you’ll get a 10,000-foot overview of the basics of the New Markets Tax Credit program, they’ll explain how it drives investments in underserved communities, and they’ll answer your questions. Whether you’re new to NMTCs or looking to deepen your understanding, this discussion is designed to give you practical insights and clarity. Bring your questions; they’ll have the answers!

Moderator:
Melissa Grover, Director of Government Affairs, PHFA

Panelists:
Representative Jarod Solomon (PA House 202)
Ali Mooney, Associate Director, Housing and Community Solutions, Guidehouse

Get the latest insights on legislative efforts underway at the state Capitol aimed at confronting the housing crisis. This session will feature an update on proposals and policy trends shaping the future of housing in the Commonwealth. Hear directly from PHFA’s Director of Government Affairs Melissa Grover, along with state elected officials and additional experts on the proposals shaping the Commonwealth’s housing landscape.

Moderator:
Liz Hersh, Strategy Consultant, PA Land Bank Network 

Panelists:
An Lewis, Executive Director, TRI-COG Land Bank in the Mon Valley
Angel Rodriguez, Executive Director, Philadelphia Land Bank
Brian Lawrence, Executive Director, Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority & Land Bank
Joseph Chacke, Executive Director, Northeast PA Land Bank Authority 

Land banks have unique powers. They can acquire abandoned properties and clear titles so those sites can be made available again for development. They can be powerful partners in opening new markets and creating new housing opportunities. In this engaging session, land bank leaders from around the state will introduce how land banks work and what they can offer developers: assembled sites, cleared titles and local partnerships. If you’re looking for new ways to find and unlock development opportunities, this conversation will open the door.

Co-Presenters:
Bryce Maretzki, Director of Strategic Planning and Policy, PHFA
Clay Lambert, Senior Program Administrator, PHFA

This session will highlight two of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s key grant programs: the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation fund (PHARE) and the Community Revitalization Fund Program (CRFP). Attendees will gain an overview of each program, eligible uses and how these resources can support affordable housing development, neighborhood stabilization and broader community efforts.

Co-Presenters:
Holly Zugay, Senior Financial Education Officer, PHFA
Khalifah Harding, Manager of Project Operations, PHFA

At the end of 2025, the PA Department of Corrections reported an inmate population of 38,144, of which roughly 90% are expected to return to their communities. According to www.newamerica.org, 72% of incarcerated adults will be released within five years. Where will the nearly 25,000 Pennsylvania reentrants live? This session provides an open conversation for developers to share input. Our discussion includes current HUD tenant selection guidelines, inclusion in the QAP and an example of how one developer is addressing the needs of this vulnerable population. 

Co-Presenters:
Kevin Huwe, CEO of Disability Options Network
Christina Kraemer, Administrator of Community Programs at Disability Options Network

The intersection of race, disability and gender with homeownership and property maintenance has a major influence on access to stable housing. Panelists will outline key assistance programs, including USDA, PHARE, LIHEAP and others, designed to support low- and very-low-income households in funding essential home repair and modifications. They will also examine the Innovative Hemp House project in New Castle – a pioneering renovation of an existing home using sustainable hemp-based building materials to promote affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly housing solutions.

Tour the newly completed Bethel Village to see firsthand the 49-unit, 45,000-square-foot senior community funded in part by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Located at Sixth and Herr Streets, two blocks from the Pennsylvania Capitol, the reclaimed brownfield site was transformed into sustainable, functional and affordable housing. Prefabricated panelized components were utilized to accommodate building on a tight urban corner. A multipurpose room provides the space for supportive services, resident activities, and invites local community use. A representative from JEM Group will be on hand to guide you through this development and answer any questions you may have.

Moderator:
Jessica Perry, Development Director, PHFA

Panelists
Jacob Fisher, Ulysses Development
Bill Gatti, Trek Development
Dana Hanchin, HDC MidAtlantic
Blane Stoddart, BFW Group

During the last 30 years, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program has become the most successful affordable rental housing production program in history. In Pennsylvania, more than 140,000 units have been created or preserved through the program since its inception. Join a conversation with industry experts about opportunities to strengthen the housing credit program, address housing market trends and expand on investment and community development initiatives. The discussion may include the following topics: the PA Affordable Housing Credit, construction costs, capital and operating costs, and the 25% Bond Test.

Moderator:
Bryce Maretzki, Director of Strategic Planning and Policy, PHFA

Panelists:
Morgan Boyd, Special Assistant to Secretary, PA Department of Community and Economic Development
Stephanie Meyer, Special Assistant to Secretary, PA Department of Human Services

The Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan, Pennsylvania’s first-ever comprehensive, data‑driven roadmap addressing housing needs across urban, suburban and rural areas, was just launched. The state’s housing supply falls drastically short in many ways, including housing supply, affordability and housing stock in need of repairs. Find out how this transformative plan will correct these issues and help make Pennsylvania a place where communities can thrive and grow. 

Moderator:
April O’Connell, Business Development Manager, PHFA

Panelists:
Emily Murray, Business Development Officer, PHFA
Jeffrey Sowers, Business Development Officer, PHFA
Ashlyn Beddow, Business Development Officer, PHFA

PHFA’s suite of first mortgage options and assistance programs assists Pennsylvanians toward homeownership with manageable down payment and closing cost assistance programs. Borrowers can take advantage of favorable first mortgage programs, access funds for home modifications and repairs and build financial equity and long-term stability. Join us as we review how PHFA’s programs make a difference in assisting families to achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership. What a difference PHFA programs can make for your borrowers.

Moderator:
Jennifer Kyung, Supervisor of Business Development, PHFA

Panelists:
Charlise Smith, Executive Director, WAVE
Rosemary Lavelle, Manager of Counseling, Advantage Credit Counseling Service
Richard Stephenson, Executive Director, Allegheny County Housing Authority
Joshua Devine, Economic Mobility Officer, The Pittsburgh Foundation

Stable housing is essential, but not enough to help families achieve lasting economic mobility. This session will spotlight PHFA’s $2 million asset building pilot, which pairs affordable housing with coordinated financial coaching, savings and credit strategies, workforce supports and access to capital. In partnership with the Allegheny County Housing Authority, local housing counseling agencies, and philanthropic and community stakeholders, PHFA is testing an integrated approach that aligns housing stability with wealth building pathways.

Hear early lessons from Allegheny County Housing Authority pilot program, learn why housing stability must be paired with asset-building initiatives, explore how cross sector partnerships reduce duplication and improve outcomes, and more.

Tour the newly completed Bethel Village to see firsthand the 49-unit, 45,000-square-foot senior community funded in part by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Located at Sixth and Herr Streets, two blocks from the Pennsylvania Capitol, the reclaimed brownfield site was transformed into sustainable, functional and affordable housing. Prefabricated panelized components were utilized to accommodate building on a tight urban corner. A multi-purpose room provides the space for supportive services, resident activities, and invites local community use. A representative from JEM Group will be on hand to guide you through this development and answer any questions you may have.

Moderator:
Jessica Perry, Development Director, PHFA

Panelists:
Macy Kisilinsky, Walker & Dunlop
Steve Napolitano, Boston Financial
Jake Stern, Cinnaire
Christopher Tully, RBC Capital Markets

Pricing, equity pay-in schedule, liquidity requirements, oh, my! Hear what equity syndicators/investors are looking for in the current market. There will be time at the end of the session to ask investors questions.

Moderator:
Beth Silvick, Manager of Multifamily Coordination, PHFA

Panelists:
Fred Banuelos, Community Investment Business Development Manager, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh
Jordan Laird, Director of Finance, PHFA
Taylor Lightman, Energy Program Specialist, Department of Environmental Protection
Nakia Parker, Eastern Region Manager, PHFA

Hear from PHFA, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and the PA Department of Environmental Protection about programs to help complete the capital stacks for the development of affordable rental housing. Programs include PHFA first mortgages, HOME-ARP, FHLB AHP and new initiatives from DEP.

Moderator:
Roberta Schwalm, Manager of Special Initiatives, PHFA

We had a great practitioner-led session on new funding available at the PHFA 2024 Housing Forum, especially Pennsylvania’s home repair program, and the federal government’s end of 2023 allocation of $50 billion, the largest single investment ever made into clean water, as well as the GLO program (“Get the Lead Out” of drinking water).  

Let’s find out how spending these funds went! What impacts on homeowners and neighborhoods were observed? Are funds still available? What recommendations do practitioners have for current and future housing funding? And how do we get involved in Governor Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan?

Moderator:
Justin Coleman, Supervisor of Training, Capacity Building and Client Engagement, PHFA

Join our panel discussion as we explore the current state of the wealth gap in Pennsylvania and discuss initiatives that can help bridge this critical divide. Our expert panelists will share insights on existing programs, innovative strategies, and collaborative efforts aimed at promoting economic empowerment and wealth-building opportunities for underrepresented communities. Key topics include:

• understanding the wealth gap in PA: causes, consequences, and impact

• effective programs and initiatives addressing wealth inequality

• opportunities for growth and investment in underserved communities

• strategies for policy change and community engagement

Co-Presenters:
Mark O’Matz, Construction Document Examiner, PHFA
Dawn Bartha, Manager of Housing Services, Western Region, PHFA

Led by PHFA’s Mark O’Matz, this session will explore why integrated green spaces are an important design element of any multifamily community. Using photos of PHFA-funded developments, you’ll get a first-hand look at how these spaces boost the economic, social and ecological benefits of both residents and the neighborhood.

Moderator:
Melissa Grover, Director of Government Affairs, PHFA

Panelist:
Garth Rieman, Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives, National Council of State Housing Agencies
Mitch Gallo, Managing Director, Municipal Finance, RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Anyone working in housing must always pay attention to the activity at the federal and national legislative levels and watch for changes that could affect the housing market. Through its policymaking, and by virtue of resources provided, legislative bodies can powerfully shape opportunities for housing production and preservation. Don’t miss this chance to hear firsthand from key officials, staff and advocates to gain their perspective on the direction of housing policy for the coming year.

Moderator:
Amy Sechrist, Senior Policy Officer, PHFA

Panelists:
Jessica Aviva, Founding Director of The Fruition Coalition
Marrea Walker-Smith, Consultant with the Chester Housing Authority and County of Chester Housing Authority

Jessica Aviva examines actionable strategies and resources for municipalities, housing providers, and social service agencies to protect residents’ fair housing rights in rural Pennsylvania. As Marrea Walker-Smith shares her research in the City of Chester, you’ll gain an understanding of how financial literacy breaks barriers associated with low-income housing.