Inspirational speaker also on agenda; variety of workshops scheduled
AUGUSTA, ME – October 7, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — One of the nation’s top energy officials and an inspirational speaker will join Governor John E. Baldacci in addressing the state’s housing leaders at Maine’s 2009 Affordable Housing Conference October 19 at the Augusta Civic Center.
Gil Sperling, Program Manager for the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs for the Department of Energy, and Kate Braestrup, Maine novelist and author and one of the first chaplains ever appointed to the Maine Warden Service, will address the conference, along with Governor Baldacci.
In addition to the speakers, the plenary sessions include a panel discussion from three experts on the current state of Maine’s housing market, and the official launching of Maine’s new, free internet rental housing listing site that links landlords with vacant apartments with tenants looking for an apartment to rent.
“The housing market has undergone tremendous changes in the past 12 months,” said MaineHousing Director Dale McCormick. “The annual housing conference brings together housing experts and officials from across the state to determine where we stand now and what we are likely to see in the future, as well as workshops on a number of important housing issues.”
This year’s conference features nine workshops with topics ranging from helping homeowners and tenants become smarter energy consumers to the changing homeownership market.
Other workshop topics include using tax credits and historic tax credits to finance affordable rental housing, using carbon credits to finance weatherization of homes, housing issues created by closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station, public health and housing, and cost effectiveness of rural supportive housing.
MaineHousing, which is sponsoring the conference, estimates about 400 people will attend. People can register on-line at www.mainehousing.org until October 14. The cost of the conference, including breakfast and lunch, is $60.
