Housing Colorado is pleased to present our 2026 HAPPEN Summer Outreach Session, hosted in Durango in service of the affordable housing community of Southwest CO. This daylong event will feature speakers on a variety of timely and engaging topics, as well as networking opportunities and complimentary refreshments and lunch. This program is shaped directly by feedback from participants of our regional peer exchange network, HAPPEN. This is an excellent chance to connect with other local advocates, operators, developers, funders, and more!

2026 HAPPEN Summer Outreach: Southwest

Agenda

8:00- 8:30 Check-In

Refreshments

Networking

8:30-8:45 Welcome

Housing Colorado Opening Remarks

Peer Intro Exercise

8:45- 9:00 Inspiration Interlude

Emily Lashbrook (Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation)

9:00- 10:15 Session I— Building Strength: Organizational Capacity Strategies

April-Dawn Knudsen (Community Resource Center), Chris Lopez (CHFA), Leah Ballard (HFH Archuleta County), Ross Valdez (Impact Development Fund)

10:15- 10:30 Break

10:30- 11:45 Session II— Making the Numbers Work: Project Funding

Michael Leahey (Castlewood Partners), Pam Moore (HomesFund), Sarah Tober (La Plata Economic Development Alliance), Shirley Diaz (DOLA- DOH)

11:45- 12:30 Lunch

12:30- 1:15: Small Group Workshop

1:15- 1:30: Inspiration Interlude

Ann Chase (Town of Silverton)

1:30-2:45 Session III— Income-Aligned Housing for Mid-Range Income Households

Hilary Cooper (Office of Economic Development), 

2:45-3:00 Farewell 

Housing Colorado Closing Remarks

Drawing