HYP Affordable Housing Action Summit
Habitat Young Professionals invites you to join the Affordable Housing Action Summit on October 3rd at Georgetown University. In Habitat’s mission to ensure affordable housing, advocacy is a central component that leads to lasting change. Led by Habitat DC-NOVA’s Young Professionals group, supported and guided by Habitat DC-NOVA staff members, this inaugural Affordable Housing Action Summit will engage, empower and activate young professionals and students into affordable housing advocates and community leaders by increasing awareness, education and training during a mini-conference event on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10am-3pm at Georgetown University. It will also present many networking opportunities for younger professionals to connect with housing field experts!
Thank you to our lead sponsor: State Farm Insurance
October 3, 2026 | 10:00am – 3:00pm
9:45 – 10:00 | Breakfast & Networking
10:00 – 10:15 | Opening remarks
10:15 – 11:00 | Session 1: Laying the Foundation of Habitat history and housing in the U.S.
This interactive session will teleport attendees to big historical moments in housing, housing affordability and homeownership in the U.S., By educating them on this history, we will help people understand why there is a housing crisis today, the current landscape, Habitat’s role in addressing it, especially how our advocacy work came to be, and what they can do to help.
11:00 – 11:30 | Networking Break
11:30 – 12:15 | Session 2: Policy Deep Dive: Missing Middle Zoning
This policy-focuses session will explain what “Missing Middle” housing is, why it is needed, why we advocate for it, and help people understand what is happening with Arlington’s Missing Middle/Expanded Housing Ordinance (EHO) case, as a local example in Habitat DC-NOVA’s service area.
12:15 – 12:45 | Networking & Lunch Service
12:45 – 1:30 | Lunch & Learn ~ Session 3: Financing Affordable Housing Projects
We are often asked how we make affordable housing projects happen and how they pencil out. This financing session will illustrate how affordable housing projects do and can get funded through various sources such as philanthropic or private funding by donors and government-sponsored financing, demonstrating models for homeownership and rental, and the value in public-private-nonprofit partnerships.
1:30 – 2:00 | Networking Break
2:00 – 2:45 | Session 4: Strategies for storytelling: How you can advocate
This engaging session will demonstrate the importance of storytelling, for Habitat’s work and for advocacy, provide storytelling training, especially on how younger people and advocates can effectively share their housing story. Attendees will leave empowered to be an advocate and know how to join in our efforts
2:45 – 3:00 | Closing Remarks
3:00 – 4:00 | Optional Networking Happy Hour at The Tombs
For more information on Habitat Young Professionals visit Young Professionals | Habitat for Humanity D.C. & Northern Virginia and for more information on Habitat’s advocacy efforts visit Advocacy – updated | Habitat for Humanity D.C. & Northern Virginia.
Speaker Highlight
Liz Salter has been with Habitat DC-NOVA since 2015, bringing a passion for communications, community-building and engaging individuals in making a lasting difference in the region. Liz’s career in the nonprofit sector began as an AmeriCorps VISTA member At Philabundance and contributed to the development of Philadelphia’s first choice-model food pantry.
Prior to joining Habitat DC-NOVA, Liz worked at the Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria, where she focused on managed volunteers and in-kind donations. Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Religious Studies from Albright College in Reading, PA. Liz is passionate about building relationships and believes everyone has a role to play in creating more equitable and accessible communities.
Christina White is the Founder & Owner of Booked & Baked, which provides premium cookies in premium presentation for large-scale events and intimate gatherings. Its individual cookie boxes and cookie platters aim to “make every guest feel special”.
Christina is also a proud Habitat DC-NoVA homeowner, residing in the Deanwood community of Washington, DC. Today, she is building Booked & Baked from that same home – a gift that keeps on giving.
Nick Burger is the Deputy Director of the Energy Administration at the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment. He leads a team that is working to meet the District’s climate and energy goals through building energy efficiency, electrification, solar power, and clean transportation policies and programs.
He holds a PhD in economics, and his research has focused on energy, climate, and resilience issues. He was a Lead Author on the Fourth Assessment Report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. An 18-year resident of the District, Dr. Burger has worked with Habitat for Humanity of DC for over ten years, helping them construct eight Passive homes for District residents. He served as an ANC Commissioner in ANC 6B for four years and has worked extensively on zoning issues and housing expansion. Dr. Burger also serves a board member for Habitat for Humanity DC & Northern Virginia.
Ian Lundy is a Director at MSquared, where he manages efforts across the firm’s real estate development business (developing mixed-income, mixed-use, sustainable communities) and impact investment business. He also focuses on opportunities to integrate technology and sustainability into all aspects of the firm’s work. Prior to joining MSquared, Lundy worked as Director of public/private partnerships and special projects at the NYC Housing Authority. During his tenure, he managed the implementation of the NYCHA 2.0 strategy, utilizing RAD to finance approximately $2B of repairs for 10,000 residents, and structuring procurement for the rehabilitation of over 30,000 housing units. He also led work analyzing alternative public trust structures, infill development and air rights transactions.
Prior to NYCHA, Lundy worked at the NYC Economic Development Corporation where he negotiated, led and managed initiatives delivering over 2,000 jobs, $680 million in investment, and ~500 units of new housing through real estate partnerships. Lundy started his career with Tishman Speyer’s New York team where he focused on development in Hudson Yards, redevelopment opportunities in Midtown East, long term asset strategy, and the firm’s tech / innovation platform. Lundy received a B.A. from Georgetown University focused on urban policy and real estate finance. He is a fellow with the Progressive Policy Institute and was a Coro Leadership NY fellow.
John Kevill is the Managing Principal of boutique advisory and investment for Solitude Cove Capital. Prior to founding Solitude Cove Capital, he was President of Capital Markets for Avison Young, where he was responsible for leading the U.S. capital markets group. He has also been a managing director at Eastdil Secured and at Jones Lang LaSalle, based in DC and specializing in major property sales and recapitalizations in the Washington region and with key clients nationally. Kevill is actively involved in the real estate and business community including with ULI, the DC Chamber of Commerce, and various other trade organizations. He currently serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC and Northern Virgina and is engaged in several other community service pursuits. He has an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia