Header image of 350 China Basin. Image courtesy of Mithun Architects.

The International Living Future Institute’s Affordable Housing Summit will take place on June 14th and 15th from 8 am PT to 12 pm PT. Read below for our top five reasons to attend this year’s summit! Sign up here to register. 

  1. FIND OUT HOW TO CREATE  CLIMATE-POSITIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING from a pioneer in the green affordable housing movement and from an architect committed to Zero Carbon Affordable Housing. Learn from the real life examples about ways to build resiliency and drive down both embodied and operational carbon in a cost-effective way.
  1. DISCOVER WAYS TO BALANCE EQUITY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES. Be inspired and informed by our opening day Keynote speaker, Nathaniel Smith, who is experienced in advocating for policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all. Additionally, Erick Mikiten and Fatimah Aure will share their experience designing disability-forward affordable housing that is accessible and inclusive for all.
Rendering of the courtyard of the Kelsey Civic Center, an ILFI affordable housing pilot project designed to be accessible and inclusive using Universal Design principles. Courtesy of the Kelsey.
  1. UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES OF HEALTHY HOUSING AND HOW TO SELECT HEALTHIER AND MORE SOCIALLY JUST MATERIALS. The National Center for Healthy Housing has been helping to lead the charge on eliminating hazards, risks, and contaminants in affordable housing and are joining us to share their recommendations for ensuring the health and wellness of residents while prioritizing energy efficiency and operational concerns. We will also be hosting a panel discussion on selecting healthier, more ethical materials that avoid embodied environmental injustices.
Image of the Living Homes at Mill Creek. Image courtesy of Community Rebuilds.
  1. TAKE A TOUR OF A REAL-LIFE LIVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT. Ever wonder what an affordable housing project would look like if it actually pursued every Petal of the Living Building Challenge? We have the answer in the Living Homes at Mill Creek, four straw-built affordable housing homes in Moab, Utah. Join us at the Affordable Housing Summit to take a peek at the recently completed homes and hear from the developer and residents.
  1. ENGAGE LEADERS IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABILITY FIELDS IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS EQUITY, CLIMATE, AND HEALTH. Learn from the amazing speakers above and many others as well as fellow summit participants. This summit is focused on action, with every section including a list of recommended action items and time to discuss how to implement the ideas in your own work.

Take a look at the full agenda:

June 14th:
8:00 AM Opening Remarks & Welcome

EQUITY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
8:30 AM Keynote Address
Nathaniel Smith, Partnership for Southern Equity
9:00 AM Designing Housing for Accessibility and Inclusion
Erick Mikiten, The Art of Access and Mikiten Architecture, and Fatimah Aure, The Kelsey
9:30 AM Equity Action Steps and Discussion
10:00 AM Break

CLIMATE POSITIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
10:30 AM Living Homes at Mill Creek Tour
11:00 AM Case Studies in Carbon Positive Housing
Anne Torney, Mithun Architecture
11:30 AM Day 1 Wrap-Up

June 15th:
8:00 AM Day 2 Introduction

CLIMATE POSITIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING (CONT.) 
8:15 AM Keynote Address
Dana Bourland, The JPB Foundation
8:45 AM Climate Action Steps and Resources for Net-Positive Energy

HEALTHY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
9:00 AM Keynote Address
Jonathan Wilson, National Center for Healthy Housing
9:30 AM Break
10:00 AM Healthy and Ethical Materials
Veena Singla, Natural Resources Defense Council
Nora Rizzo, Grace Farms
Susan Puri, International Living Future Institute
11:00 AM Action Steps for Health and Discussion
11:30 AM Summit Wrap-Up

Sign up here to register. Registration is offered at a sliding scale from $5 to $75. Email affordablehousing@living-future.org with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Written By

Susan Puri

As Affordable Housing Director, Susan helps affordable housing projects achieve Living Building Certification through the Institute’s pilot program. She also helps develop resources and educational materials. Originally from the Atlanta area, Susan attended Georgia Tech where she received a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of City and Regional Planning, with a focus on Affordable Housing Development. She has worked in urban planning in Georgia and in Beijing, China. Susan also worked as a LEED Reviewer with Epsten Group for five years, reviewing LEED applications from more than 30 countries and five rating systems. Susan is very much looking forward to exploring the intersection of affordable housing and sustainability at the International Living Future Institute. When not working, Susan loves traveling and is currently learning Hindi.