Online Events Scheduled for Tuesday, October 6 through Thursday, October 8
(SEATTLE, WA) The Washington State Housing Finance Commission and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance today announced the transition of their respective annual conferences, Housing Washington and the Conference on Ending Homelessness, to virtual gatherings this fall.
“Because we cannot predict how this health crisis may affect the region in the coming months, it was clear that an in-person gathering would not be prudent,” said Steve Walker, executive director of the Housing Finance Commission. “Despite the difficult circumstances, we are excited that a virtual setting is an opportunity for an even more inclusive and equitable conference. We hope to attract new attendees with the same quality of programming that longtime participants have come to expect.”
“The future of large-scale events remains uncertain,” agreed Rachael Myers, executive director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. “Our planning team aligns with the Commission’s approach and believes that an online format of content ensures we won’t miss delivering opportunities for learning, networking, advocacy, and community building in our efforts to end homelessness.”
Housing Washington will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. The event will be free to attend, removing budgetary barriers and expanding access through on-demand platforms, webinars, and live sessions. Programming will focus on impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism on the affordable housing industry and on people and communities.
The Conference on Ending Homelessness will take place Wednesday and Thursday, October 7-8, just following Housing Washington. Adjusted registration rates will be announced in the coming weeks and a special discount will be extended to Housing Washington registrants. The live event will offer attendees meaningful exchange, shared advice, inspiration, and opportunities to engage in, and expand, the movement to end homelessness in Washington and beyond.
This year’s transition also meant a modification to the planned collaboration between Housing Washington and the Conference on Ending Homelessness, which was to debut this fall with a shared venue and overlapping programming. Instead, in 2020, both events will cross-promote respective virtual programming and look forward to the launch of a formal partnership in the fall of 2021.
Updated details and information on registration, sponsorships, and scholarships for both events will be posted in the coming weeks on the respective websites at www.housingwa.org and www.wliha.org/conference.
About Housing Washington
Housing Washington, led by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, enhances the skills, vision, and understanding of professionals working in affordable housing in Washington state and challenges them to work toward racial equity and social justice. www.housingwa.org.
About the Conference on Ending Homelessness
The Conference on Ending Homelessness is an annual event that brings together over 600 people from across the state who are working to end homelessness for learning, networking, advocacy, and community building opportunities. Together, we learn from each other, exchange ideas and share advice, get inspired and re-energized, and organize to grow the movement to end homelessness in Washington and beyond.
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