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Tuesday, November 17th Sessions
Tuesday sessions apply to all housing programs (except as noted in the session description)
The Affordable Housing Manager’s Risk Map for 2026 and Beyond
This opening session examines the key operational, compliance, and leadership risks affecting affordable housing professionals today. Topics may include staffing pressures, fair housing exposure, inspection readiness, documentation weaknesses, maintenance liability, resident conflict, and the increasing challenge of managing layered responsibilities with limited resources. This session is intended to frame the conference and provide attendees with a practical roadmap for the year ahead. Fair Housing in a Time of Mixed Signals
This session explores how affordable housing providers can maintain sound fair housing practices even when the enforcement climate appears to shift. The focus will be on practical site-level decision-making, consistency in policy enforcement, screening standards, accommodation requests, staff training, and the importance of good documentation. The goal is to help management professionals avoid the mistake of assuming that a changing enforcement climate means reduced legal risk. Resident Communication, Conflict, and Credibility
Strong resident communication is one of the most overlooked tools in successful property management. This session addresses how staff should communicate during disputes, maintenance delays, policy enforcement, emergencies, and difficult resident interactions. The discussion will focus on practical communication techniques, professionalism under pressure, and documentation practices that help reduce misunderstandings and liability. General Session: Smart Use of AI and Technology in Affordable Housing Management
This session explores where technology can genuinely improve affordable housing operations and where it can create new risks. Topics may include communication tools, workflow management, training support, recordkeeping, and the dangers of using technology in ways that undermine consistency, privacy, or sound judgment. The goal is to provide a practical view of technology as a tool rather than a cure-all. The Tenant File from Hell: Spotting Problems Before They Become Findings Wednesday, November 18th Sessions
Track A Sessions
Virginia Housing Updates
LIHTC Program and State Compliance Matters. Join us for an informative panel discussion with members of Virginia Housing’s Compliance and Asset Management team, who will share updates and highlights on the most commonly encountered errors in compliance monitoring of LIHTC, EUA commitments, and more. [Speakers TBD]
An Updated Guide to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Law
The session will review how to document and to enforce lease violations, a review of the eviction proceedings, preparing for and attending court with and without the benefit of counsel, how to handle and to address mold and maintenance lawsuits, and a review of the most recent legislative changes to the VRLTA. [Instructor: Bryan Grimes Creasy]
Understanding Your Communication Style
Understanding your communication style helps you communicate more effectively with staff and residents. Using the MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) as a tool, we will explore common causes of miscommunication and ways to improve interactions. To prepare for class, please complete the 16 Personalities Quiz and bring your results to class. Do not pay for the advanced report; download the free report instead. Please go to: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality to take the quiz and download the free report BEFORE THE CONFERENCE. [Instructor: Michael Alexander]
Burnout, Boundaries, and Balance
Certified Executive Coach Sheila Battle hosts this in-person session providing practical strategies for mental and emotional wellness at work, at home, and beyond. Her session, “Burnout, Boundaries, and Balance” will guide participants through identifying what burnout looks and feels like, establishing healthy boundaries, and cultivating balance even in demanding or stressful environments. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to help restore clarity, agency, and well-being in their daily lives. [Instructor: Sheila Battle]
Track B Sessions
Immigration Rights & Responsibilities of Affordable Housing Managers
This practical, straight-talking session is applicable to all attendees and equip attendees with the knowledge they need to navigate immigration enforcement issues confidently and legally. Participants will learn how ICE and other federal agencies operate, what authority they actually have on private property, and—just as important—what they don’t have the right to do. The session breaks down critical differences between judicial warrants and administrative ICE documents, outlines when access can be denied and explains how to protect resident privacy without obstructing law enforcement. If you manage rental housing, this training provides the legal clarity and operational tools you need in today’s fast-changing enforcement environment. Average Income Set-Aside: Operational Realities and Management Pitfalls
This session focuses on the management side of Average Income, including designation strategy, maintaining the required average, vacancies, transfers, re-rents, and communication between compliance and operations staff. The session is applicable to compliance specialists, LIHTC managers, regional managers, ownership staff, syndicator staff, and consultants. HOTMA and LIHTC: Managing the Friction in Layered Housing
This workshop examines how evolving HUD income and asset rules may affect properties that also operate under LIHTC and other affordable housing requirements. The session will focus on practical management concerns, documentation consistency, staff training, and the need to avoid confusion when different program rules intersect. This session is geared to compliance staff, property managers, regional managers, layered-housing specialists, and trainers. LIHTC Compliance Pressure Points in 2026
This session provides a broad overview of the recurring areas where LIHTC properties most often encounter noncompliance. Topics may include income calculation errors, student rule mistakes, utility allowance problems, documentation gaps, transfers, annual recertification concerns, and internal management failures that often lead to reportable findings. This session is intended to provide a useful foundation before attendees move into the concurrent workshop tracks. While applicable to all Day 2 attendees, this session is especially targeted to LIHTC managers, compliance staff, regional managers, and ownership personnel. Track C Sessions
Advanced Income Eligibility Scenarios
It’s a changing world, and compliance with HUD’s Income eligibility determination rules is not immune. Ever wonder how to verify, calculate, and categorize Venmo, CashApp, & Apple Pay deposits? Are they income or assets? How do we know? What about Grub Hub, DoorDash, or Instacart? As we see more and more AI technologies, can you spot an AI created check stub? When a resident promptly provides four consecutive paystubs that annualize to $10,000 a year, but their Year-To-Date income is at $15,000 in June, does your eyebrow rise? Join us in a lively discussion on the topic of Income and Assets in a gig economy online banking driven world. We’ll talk through scenarios that we get asked about and the ground rules for verifying income and assets in our industry where these factors play a direct role in determining rent. [Jenny DeSilva, Instructor]
Behind the Scenes with TRACS: Unlocking HUD's Data System
New to HUD’s TRACS system? This course will give you the essential tools to understand and navigate TRACS with confidence! We’ll break down the basics: When are submissions due? What types of files are being sent? What really happens during TRACS nightly processing—and how can you decode those mysterious messages to make sure your HAP payments arrive on time? But that’s just the beginning! You’ll also discover powerful reports within TRACS that can help your site stay ahead of the game, prepare for Management and Occupancy Reviews, and spot trends in your tenant data before they become problems. If you're ready to take the guesswork out of TRACS and start using it as a powerful tool—not just a requirement—this is the class for you! [Jenny DeSilva, Instructor]
EIV 101: What to Print, Where to File and How to Stay Ahead:
Feeling overwhelmed by EIV? You’re not alone— but help is here! This energizing session breaks down HUD’s EIV system into simple, clear steps that will leave you feeling confident and in control. We’ll explore the monthly and quarterly reports found in the EIV Master File and show you how to use the Existing Tenant Search like a pro. You’ll learn exactly when to print reports, what the data is really telling you, and where everything belongs for easy access and compliance. Packed with real-life examples and visual screenshots, this course is perfect for visual learners and anyone looking to get organized before their next Management and Occupancy Review. Walk away with the clarity and tools you need to make your EIV files audit-ready—and stress-free. [Jenny DeSilva, Instructor]
VAWA Compliance Made Clear: Protect Residents and Perfect Your Policies:
HUD Multifamily owners—are you fully up to speed with the latest Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) requirements? With multiple reauthorizations shaking up policies, forms, and recertification procedures, staying compliant is more important than ever. How have you adapted? Do you have a comprehensive Emergency Transfer Plan in place —and does it check all the boxes? Join this interactive session to learn exactly what protections and options must be offered to VAWA survivors during application, housing assistance, and beyond. We’ll guide you through the must-have updates to your policies, interviews, screening, recertifications, and termination processes to ensure you’re fully compliant and ready to support your residents. Don’t miss this chance to empower yourself and safeguard your community! [Jenny DeSilva, Instructor]
Track D Sessions
Special Claims Essentials
This presentation will provide a brief overview of Special Claims and review best practices to ensure that claims are paid as quickly and completely as possible. Participants will use practical exercises to test their knowledge and identify any areas that they may wish to review further. [Mary Celone, Pam Kazlauskas, Instructors]
Virginia Housing Procorem Compliance
Data Integrity Matters. Virginia Housing will share information about the online Tenant Portal, Procorem, and the importance of frequent and accurate data uploads. [Speakers TBD]
RAD for PRAC: Best practices to Prepare and Convert your PRAC Contract - Learn the latest on the "RAD for PRAC" program, and how your PRAC property may benefit. We will focus on ways you can improve your PRAC rents before a possible conversion, key requirements of the conversion process, and what the benefits are after conversion. [Gates Keller, Instructor]
Top Ten Tips for Dealing with Seniors -
Communicating with Seniors can be challenging in many situations. This class will deal with the top ten tips for better communication and better understanding of the seniors that you encounter daily. We will have time for case situations that you bring to class and some ways to deal with them. [Michael Alexander, Instructor]
Track E Sessions
Agentic AI in Affordable Housing: Building an Orchestrated AI Workforce
Affordable housing operations are entering a pivotal shift as agentic AI becomes practical, transparent, and purpose‑built for our industry. This session will explore how an orchestrated AI workforce—spanning leasing, resident services, compliance, operations, facilities, and finance—can support teams with tasks such as application processing, recertifications, file reviews, communications, and day‑to‑day operational workflows. This session will demonstrate how coordinated AI agents can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness while keeping compliance, transparency, and human oversight firmly at the center. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what agentic AI means for affordable housing, what capabilities are available today, and how organizations can prepare for this next operational leap. [Presented by RealPage; Speaker TBD]
Artificial Intelligence as a Tool
AI gets talked about like it's either magic or a threat, but for property managers, the more useful frame is simpler: it's a tool. This session traces a quick path from AI's origins to where it already shows up in property management today, often without anyone realizing it, in tenant screening, automated rent collection, predictive maintenance, and AI-powered chat support. We'll also look ahead at what's coming next, and talk honestly about the real tradeoffs: data privacy, cost of implementation, and why human interaction still has to stay at the center of tenant relationships. Attendees will leave with a practical, no-hype understanding of how to use AI as one more tool, not a replacement for the judgment that drives this business. [Presented by Yardi: Joanna Chlopeka, Senior Account Executive on the Affordable Sales Team]
The Inevitability of Monitored Cameras in Affordable Housing
The question is no longer whether affordable housing communities will have AI-monitored surveillance — it's who pays for it and who controls it. Joseph will trace the policy, legal, and insurance pressures converging on subsidized housing operators, and argue that passive cameras are becoming a liability while active monitoring is becoming a baseline expectation with unexpected ROI for owners and management. [Joseph Turner, Cloudastructure | Instructor] Practical Automation for Affordable Housing Teams
Affordable housing teams are being asked to do more with less: respond to prospects faster, manage waitlists, support residents, keep recertifications moving, and document every step for compliance. This session will cut through the AI hype and focus on where automation can safely and practically support affordable housing operations. Led by Jeffrey Bai and Dianne Kaiyoorawongs who work on Elise AI's Affordable Housing product team, this session will explore how AI can help streamline high-volume leasing and resident workflows while respecting the realities of operating affordable programs. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what AI can do today, how to evaluate automation through a compliance-first lens, and whether purpose-built software can help improve operational pain points at their sites. [Jeffrey Bai, Dianne Kaiyoorawongs - EliseAI | Instructor]
Thursday, November 19th Sessions
Track A Sessions
HUD Hot Topics
In the dynamic world of HUD compliance, what was a hot topic last week may be overshadowed by a new announcement or regulatory change that drops today. Staying abreast of these changes and the impact they have on our jobs as affordable housing professionals is a constant chore. It is not enough to understand the change...you have to consider what must now occur to comply! In this session, we will discuss the top five regulatory changes that prompted reaction from the industry in 2026 to encourage participants to confirm their level of compliance. The group will discuss implementation challenges or setbacks, pending clarification requests, and success stories shared by peers. HOTMA implementation, citizenship verifications, and changes to interim recertification processes are sure to make that list. Come, partake in the discussion and leave with a sense of awareness for what is in store for 2027. [Jenny DeSilva, Instructor]
Track B Session
NSPIRE – Everyday Practical Ideas So You’ll Do Well on Your Next Inspection?
With three years of NSPIRE operation and experience, we have seen a lot. We started in 2023 with good inspections and high scores and now have regressed to questionable inspections and failing scores. What is going right or wrong? What are the common findings? How do you respond to the inspectors and to the findings? What are the recent and upcoming changes? In this intense 4-hour session, Dennis DiBello returns to provide 10 actions and 10 takeaways to ensure your inspections go well and you score as high as possible. Attendees will gain practical guidance on 2026 updates, navigating HUD’s portal, uploading 24-hour corrections and appeals, reviewing top deficiencies, and understanding preventative measures through real-world case study examples. A copy of the latest and greatest APC’s NSPIRE pocket-guide is included with/provided to all NSPIRE-session-ONLY registrants. All other/conference registrants may purchase the pocket-guide for just $10 when registering for the conference. Pocket-Guides will be distributed during onsite check-in. [Dennis DiBello, Instructor]
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