HAND’s annual Suburban Housing Conference set for April 23

Interactive experience will feature regional leaders & Indiana rollout of ULI’s Homeward program

HAND, Inc. will hold its 12^th annual Suburban Housing Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at the IMMI Conference Center, 18880 East St., 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:

1. See It – understanding what is driving today’s housing market
2. 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
3. Translate It – hearing how these challenges are playing out locally
4. 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,” HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis said. “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. Click here to learn more or reserve a seat.

About HAND, Inc.
HAND, Inc. is a nonprofit Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) serving Hamilton, Boone, and Tipton counties. HAND develops and manages quality rental housing and works to expand housing options so individuals and families can live, work, and thrive in the communities they call home.