HAND Hosting 12th annual Suburban Housing Conference

HAND, Inc. will host its 12th annual Suburban Housing Conference on Thursday, April 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the IMMI Conference Center in Westfield.

Presented by the Hamilton County Community Foundation, the conference will bring together local elected officials, municipal staff, developers, employers, lenders, and nonprofit leaders from across Hamilton, Boone, and Tipton counties for a focused, half-day experience exploring how housing impacts communities and local decision-making.

This year’s theme, From Plans to Places: Turning Housing Systems into Real Homes, reflects a shift toward practical, action-oriented conversations grounded in real-world challenges.

Unlike traditional conferences, the 2026 event is structured as an interactive experience designed to move participants through a clear arc:

See It – understanding what is driving today’s housing market Feel It – experiencing the real tradeoffs communities face through an interactive simulation led by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), launching in Indiana for the first time Translate It – hearing how these challenges are playing out locally Fix It – identifying opportunities for action

A key feature of this year’s conference is the Indiana rollout of the Urban Land Institute’s Homeward program, an interactive simulation designed to help participants better understand the complex decisions, constraints, and tradeoffs that shape housing outcomes. The session will be led by a member of ULI’s team traveling from Boston, where the program was originally developed and launched.

“The goal of this conference is to help people connect the dots,” said Andrea Davis, Executive Director of HAND. “Housing impacts workforce, economic development, schools, and the long-term health of our communities. We want people to leave with a clearer understanding of how the system works and where they can play a role.”

The conference will also include a moderated panel featuring local leaders from government, planning, and development, offering an honest look at how housing challenges are playing out across communities and the real-world constraints shaping decisions.

Registration is now open. To learn more or reserve a seat, visit: https://handincorporated.org/2026-suburban-housing-conference-april-23/