This panel discussion explores how factory-built homes (referred to throughout the webinar as manufactured housing) can help close the affordable housing supply gap – especially through infill development and new subdivision development. Practitioners and researchers unpack what’s holding growth back (particularly zoning barriers and financing gaps) and what’s working on the ground in places like Jackson, Mississippi and Southern California.
Speakers
- Grant Beck – VP of Strategic Partnerships, Next Step Network
- Stacey Epperson – President & CEO, Next Step Network
- Astou Aw – Senior Economist – Single-Family Mission & Community Engagement, Freddie Mac
- Chloe Dotson – Director of Planning & Development, City of Jackson, MS
- Clemente Mojica – President & CEO, Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services (NPHS)
- Ramsay Cohen – Director of Industry & Community Affairs, Clayton Homes
Key Themes Covered
- Zoning as a Gatekeeper: How local definitions, minimum lot sizes, and density rules can restrict factory-built homes – and how jurisdictions can modernize policies.
- A Real-World Playbook (Jackson, MS): Using education + ordinance updates + a pilot project approach to reduce stigma and enable thoughtfully designed infill.
- Scaling Beyond “Niche Housing”: Why manufacturers are building products that better align with conventional development patterns and financing pathways.
- What Communities Want: Emphasis on features like front porches, neighborhood fit, resilience, and energy efficiency – plus the importance of letting stakeholders “see and feel” modern homes to shift perception.
- Equity + Access: Discussion of the racial homeownership gap and the potential for factory-built housing to expand sustainable homeownership—if zoning and financing barriers are addressed.
Who This is For
- Local government leaders (planning, zoning, housing, economic development)
- Affordable housing developers (nonprofit + for-profit)
- CDFIs, lenders, and housing finance professionals
- Housing advocates and policymakers
- Researchers and ecosystem partners working on housing supply and equitable homeownership