HUD Region VII Staff Members Participate in Nebraska's Premier Housing Event

FOD Earl Redrick (far left), RA Jennifer Tidwell (left center), and NIFA Executibe Director Tim Kinney (far right) are joined by General Counsel for NIFA in discussions of current successes and challenges in housing and community development in Nebraska.

The annual NIFA (Nebraska Investment Finance Authority) Housing Innovation Marketplace conference was held on January 21-22.  Region VII Regional Administrator (RA) Jennifer Tidwell and Omaha Field Office Director (FOD) Earl Redrick along with other staff attended the event.

RA Tidwell was a special guest at the conference. The Omaha Field Office participated as an exhibitor. Region VII FHEO Director, Betty Bottiger, also participated as a panelist for an Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing panel discussion. FOD Redrick served as moderator.

The annual event serves as the state's premier housing event bringing together some 399 participants across the housing industry spectrum-lenders, developers, real estate professionals, counselors, policy makers and community service organizations and leaders. For the first time at the annual event, a learning track was dedicated to homelessness and the associated housing and social service demands.

The event also created a dynamic environment for facilitation of discussions around equality in affordable housing development and the increasing demand for senior housing in Nebraska.

Motivational speaker, Steve Gilland, gave a very enthusiastic and laughter filled lunch keynote address. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer provided some very poignant comments on the importance of housing related work.

For more information, please visit NIFA (www.nifa.org)

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