Check out the full program line-up for 2026 Housing Matters Symposium

In just a month, housing advocates from Central Iowa and beyond will gather in the Iowa Event Center's junior ballroom for the Polk County Housing Trust Fund's annual Housing Matters Symposium.

We've been so excited by the community response to our keynote speaker Charles Marohn, author and founder of Strong Towns. Now, we can't wait to share with you the rest of the line-up for this half day session, made possible by presenting sponsors AARP Iowa and the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

The event is filling up fast - be sure to reserve your spot now! Register online at https://hms26.eventbrite.com.

Housing Sites of Opportunity

Throughout our neighborhoods and communities, there are numerous, non-traditional opportunity sites for housing development to explore. To help investigate the characteristics of these sites of opportunity, PCHTF teamed with Confluence to complete an analysis of underutilized, underperforming, or vacant land in Polk County that would be suitable for Missing Middle housing development. Our team identified ten site typologies and created 3-D development graphics to illustrate different scenarios. Cost estimates were produced to serve as a springboard to further conversations about how Central Iowa can develop housing to serve residents at all income levels through all phases of life. The analysis was made possible with support from Wells Fargo. This session is presented by Capital Crossroads.

With Johnny Alcivar, PCHTF; Abbey Eckberg, Confluence; and Jane Reasoner, Confluence

Develop the Developer Launchpad

Expanding housing is a priority, but small-scale projects in established neighborhoods are challenging for emerging developers to build. In December, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund graduated its first Develop the Developer Launchpad cohort after a rigorous two-week bootcamp using Freddie Mac’s national multifamily curriculum. A small group of those graduates will next take part in a multifamily, multi-month fellowship involving a joint venture with DEV Partners and equity investment, while simultaneously working toward their own missing middle development. Learn what’s next for these fellows and how to get involved in a future round of this exciting new program.

With Julian Neely, PCHTF, and Danny Heggen, DEV Partners

Incremental Development Showcase

Housing developers are using a range of innovative strategies to deliver new homes that complement the character of existing neighborhoods. This showcase brings together local leaders behind new infill projects to share insights on both the challenges and opportunities of this approach. We’ll explore how these efforts are addressing rising housing costs while preserving the qualities that make neighborhoods vibrant and livable.

Hosted by Toby O’Berry, PCHTF with

• Scott Cutler, Cutler Development

• Dan Drendel, Slingshot Architecture

• Mike Stuart, Tiny Homes of Iowa

• Carrie Woerdeman, Central Iowa Community Land Trust/HOME, Inc.