We will kick-off the conference with welcoming remarks from MSHDA Executive Director and HUD Regional Administrator Diane M. Shelley.  Following the welcome Donna Beegle will present our first keynote of the conference.

People Without Homes: What We Can Do
At age 26, for the first time in her life, Donna Beegle received stable housing for herself and her two children. Like 1.5 million households in Michigan, her focus was on where she and her family would sleep that night. The freedom from unstable housing combined with increased access to services and opportunities enabled her to achieve a GED and, 10 years later, a doctoral degree. It also broke the cycle of generations of poverty in her family. Housing for all is crucial to thriving Michigan communities. Dr. Beegle, a former Portland Housing Commissioner and recipient of Section 8 Housing Voucher, will assist participants with evidence-based best practices for creating a coordinated, poverty-informed approach to increase equity and build thriving Michigan communities.

This session is sponsored by GTJ Consulting