The Real Cost of NIMBY: The Economic Development Case for Affordable Housing

I’ll be joining a panel at the 30th annual Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, presenting in my role as Director of the DHCR Data Center on the data tools the NJ Department of Community Affairs has developed to help communities make the economic case for affordable housing.

Session Details

The Real Cost of NIMBY: The Economic Development Case for Affordable Housing September 29, 2026, 4:00–5:15 PM — Wildwood 10/11

From the conference program: affordable housing brings a variety of benefits — not just for the families who will live there, but for communities and the State. The session covers the research on the economic benefits of investing in affordability and how DCA has developed data tools that can help make the economic case for developing affordable housing.

Panel Participants

Colleen Velez (Moderator) — Division of Housing and Community Resources, NJ Department of Community Affairs

Helen Kioukis — Policy Manager, Housing and Land Use, NJ Future

Gavin Rozzi — Director, Division of Housing and Community Resources Data Center, NJ Department of Community Affairs

Christopher Wheeler, PhD — Chief Data Officer, NJ Department of Community Affairs

A representative of The Reinvestment Fund is also slated to join the panel.

Conference Context

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, New Jersey’s largest annual gathering of housing and economic development professionals. Governor Mike Sherrill is slated to deliver the keynote address.