Registration now open for PHFA's Housing Services Conference

Annual professional development event offers 38 educational sessions and peer networking

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Apr 02, 2015, 10:22 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Registration is now open for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's 2015 Housing Services Conference planned for June 10-12 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. This annual conference offers two-and-a-half days of educational sessions and multiple keynote speakers aimed at advancing the professional development of people working in Pennsylvania's housing services field.

The term "housing services" pertains to the many different providers who help support seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families with programs so they can live independently and avoid or delay institutional housing. The housing services field includes such people as social workers, service coordinators, property managers, activity coordinators, representatives with community based organizations, and others involved with housing. PHFA developed this annual conference to provide continuing education opportunities for housing services professionals in the state.

"Every component in this conference is aimed at giving housing services professionals the tools they need to perform better in their jobs and have more satisfying careers," said Brian A. Hudson Sr., PHFA's executive director and CEO. "As our state's population ages, these people working in housing services will take on added importance because they help people continue to live independently and avoid institutional housing. Individuals and society benefit when we're able to support productive, independent living through events like this one."

The conference includes 38 educational sessions and three plenary keynotes, including one sharing stories from formerly homeless veterans who are now placed in permanent housing. A popular regular feature of the conference is its Showcase of Best Practices, which encourages attendees to present innovative solutions for better connecting housing services providers with their communities. A vendor exhibit hall will promote products and services of value to housing services providers. HUD continuing education credits can be earned during this conference, and CE credits may be available for social workers, too.

The June conference reflects its Pittsburgh setting and its many bridges with its theme "Building Bridges." Drawing on this theme, one of the activities during the event will be the collection and display of photos provided by housing residents demonstrating how the work of service providers helps to build bridges in their local community. The conference also will include a food drive to benefit a local food bank.

For more information about the conference's educational sessions and costs, and to register, please visit the conference website at www.PHFA.org/hsc. Information also is available by contacting PHFA's Housing Services Department at 717.780.4353 or [email protected]. Early bird registration must be postmarked by May 1 for the preferred conference rate. Registration forms can be postmarked as late as May 22 to attend the conference, but registrations after May 1 will not get the preferred rate.

About PHFA
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $11.9 billion of funding for more than 158,900 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 122,590 rental units, and saved the homes of more than 47,900 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board.

Contact:
Scott Elliott
717-780-3916 (office)
717-649-6522 (cell)
[email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency