Affordable housing projects in the Midwest face serious challenges. Developers struggle to find enough financing, deal with complex regulations, and manage rising construction costs. These barriers make it hard for projects to “pencil out” financially, adding to the shortage of affordable homes.

The Affordable Housing Finance Forum is your chance to connect with developers, investors, lenders, policymakers, and community leaders to address one of our region's most pressing challenges: blending multiple streams of funding to build more affordable housing.

The forum's agenda comes from the Kansas City Fed's ongoing outreach to affordable-housing stakeholders. It addresses key challenges and opportunities they've identified in affordable housing finance. You will connect with experts on housing market trends and policy solutions during our plenary sessions, then dive into break-out sessions on critical financing and development topics.

Whether you're a developer, lender, investor, policymaker, philanthropist, or researcher, this conference offers valuable perspectives and connections to advance your work.

Space is limited — secure your spot now.

Who should attend?

  • Affordable housing developers (for-profit, not-for-profit)
  • Affordable housing financers (banks, CDFIs, investors)
  • Government leaders (local, state, federal, tribal)
  • Philanthropic organizations
  • Community-based organizations
  • Housing researchers

Agenda

Nov. 12, 2026

11:30 a.m.

Registration and Lunch

12:15 p.m.

Welcome

Jeremy Hegle
Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer (CAO), Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
12:30 p.m.

Formal Remarks

Jeffrey Schmid
President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
1:15 p.m.

Plenary Session

National Affordable Housing Policy

Dr. Aaron Hedlund
Member, Council of Economic Advisors
2:15 p.m.

Break

2:30 p.m.

Break-out Session

  • From Concept to Action: Impact Investing as a Housing Finance Tool
  • Innovative Partnerships and Solutions for Collaborative Development in Indian Country
  • Municipal-Developer Collaboration in Housing Finance

3:45 p.m.

Break

4:00 p.m.

Break-out Session

  • Case Study: Housing Hub Colorado
  • Small Towns, Big Impact: Funding Rural Housing Development
  • The Stability Dividend: Resident Services, Retention, and Revenue

5:15 p.m.

Reception

Nov. 13, 2026

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast

8:45 a.m.

Welcome

Rachael Surmick
Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
9:00 a.m.

Plenary Session

U.S. Economic Outlook

Joseph Gruber
Executive Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
9:30 a.m.

Fireside Chat

Jeffrey B. Kuzbel
President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka
10:15 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.

Break-out Session

  • Managing the Cost of Land: Practical Strategies for Affordable Housing Development
  • The LIHTC Investment Landscape
  • Unconventional Capital: How Developers are Rethinking Housing Finance

11:45 a.m.

Networking Lunch