2026 Inclusive Housing Summit
It’s that time of year again! HOPE NC’s Fifth Annual Inclusive Housing Summit, From Policy to Place: Building Affordable, Accessible & Inclusive Communities, will take place on Monday, November 9, 2026 at the Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill. Registration, the Exhibit Hall and breakfast begin at 8:00 am, with the summit program running from 9:00 am-4:00 pm.
This year’s summit will move us through the theme of Policy to Place. We will begin the morning with Policy, including a keynote conversation rooted in Governor Stein’s Executive Order No. 36, which aims to tackle North Carolina’s housing crisis. We are honored to welcome Janneke Ratcliffe, Senior Advisor for Housing Policy for the North Carolina Governor, and Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Secretary of the Division of MHDDSUS at NCDHHS, as our opening plenary panel.The day will also include a panel from the I/DD Caucus to help ground the conversation in the needs and priorities of people with I/DD.
In the afternoon, we will move into Place, with breakout sessions focused on inclusive housing models and what they look like in practice. HOPE NC Community Facilitators and residents will host a session about our model and what inclusive housing looks like in daily life.
We hope you will join us for a day of learning, connection, and imagining what affordable, accessible, and inclusive communities can look like across North Carolina! Tickets go on sale September 1st.
Our Exhibit Hall will feature community organizations working to improve the lives of adults with I/DD. We listened to feedback and there will be more time this year to visit with each organization!
Advocate for ChangeBecome a Sponsor
We invite you to support HOPE NC's Annual Inclusive Housing Summit by becoming a sponsor or hosting a table in our Exhibit Hall. Your involvement strengthens our collective work toward inclusive housing and offers meaningful visibility and engagement with a diverse network of housing professionals and community leaders.
Read More about Becoming a Sponsor
To become a sponsor or reserve a table, go here.
Details
When:
November 9th, 2026, 8 am-4 pm
Registration and Breakfast begin at 8 am; Summit from 9 am-4 pm
Where:
The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill
ExploreThe Summit Agenda
8:00 am: Registration Opens
8:00-9:00 am: Coffee/Networking–Visit Exhibit Hall
9:00-9:05 am: Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:05-9:35 am: HOPE NC: Building Inclusive Communities
9:35-10:55 am: Keynote Panel: How is the state addressing the need for housing options for adults with I/DD?
- Janneke Ratliff, Housing Advisor to Gov Stein
- Kelly Crosbie, Secretary of DMH/DD/SUS at DHHS
11:00 am -12:00 pm: Networking/Visit Exhibit Hall
12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00-2:00 pm: General Assembly Legislative I/DD Caucus panel--What is the I/DD Caucus and how does it relate to inclusive housing?
2:00-3:30 pm: Breakout Sessions (choose 1)
Session A: Patuxent Commons, inclusive housing in Maryland, lessons after one year in operation
Session B: What is the Community Facilitator role and why is it needed? HOPE NC residents and Community Facilitators share their experiences
Session C: Two NC communities providing support for people with higher needs while creating community ties
3:35-4:00 pm: Closing session
More detailed agenda information and speaker information coming soon!