IForum Series
IForums
Our annual IForums are an opportunity to showcase the interdisciplinary nature of housing policy. With connections to various public policy issues - from education to health, economic security to sustainability and community development, environment and energy use to transit - housing plays a crucial role in our state’s economic health and sense of community. IForums serve as a medium to educate key decision makers, community leaders and the public on the connection between housing policy and other major public policy issues. The IForum series continues to ask difficult questions and to foster conversation about how the public and private sector can work together towards a mutual goal of solving key policy problems and enhancing Connecticut as a place where people can and want to live, work and raise a family.
Our IForums feature speakers and panelists from the local, state, regional and national levels who bring deep knowledge, innovative ideas, first-hand experience, and useful resources regarding the forum topic. In addition, a crucial part of each IForum is interaction, dialogue and learning with and from the audience members.
Upcoming IForums
On Tuesday December 6th, 2022, the Partnership for Strong Communities hosted its IForum:Â Tenant-Based Subsidies in Connecticut: Equitable Expansion.
Over 100 attendees tuned in to hear from Suzanne Piacentini with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as she discussed the different kinds of housing subsidies that exist, who utilizes housing subsidy programs in the state, and the impact these housing vouchers have on the lives of Connecticut residents and families. Â
Following Suzanne’s presentation, attendees were able to hear from a panel of experts moderated by Kiley Gosselin, Executive Director of the Partnership for Strong Communities. Panelists included:
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Phylicia Adams, Corporation for Supportive Housing
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Peggy Bailey, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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Michelle Molina, J D' Amelia & Associates
History
In 2009 and 2010, the Partnership embarked on a series of events entitled “Housing: The Hub of Public Policy.” a medium to educate the public and policymakers about the connections between housing policy and other major public policy issues, including education, transportation, the environment, healthcare, municipal finance, the workforce and support services.
The Partnership hosted the 2009 series as a step towards our goal of educating the public on how affordable housing plays a part in solving a wide range of public policy problems. In 2010, the Partnership collaborated with the CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the CT Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) to host a series of workshops aimed at creating policy alternatives for critical housing, education, transportation, healthcare, homelessness and workforce issues.
After exploring these various issues and their connections to one another through the 2009-2010 event series, the Partnership’s event series evolved in 2011 into the IForum series. IForums have focused on innovative solutions to pressing public policy issues that are connected to the Partnership’s work on affordable housing, homelessness and community development. Working with partners across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, the Partnership uses the IForum series to explore issues with an eye on real world solutions that can be implemented in our state.