On January 1, 2021, there will be a sunsetting of the federal moratorium on evictions and an already fragile rural housing marketplace will become even more disjointed. It is projected that as many as 40 million households could face eviction around the country with most rural states having few if any protections in place to counter an expected flood of displacements. With an already significant underinvestment in affordable housing in rural America, an aging rental marketplace and the forces of gentrification accelerated by those fleeing COVID-19 (along with other factors), many rural residents are in a uniquely vulnerable state of housing insecurity.

Join us for a session in our series of rural-focused webinars organized by Philanthropy Northwest and Philanthropyworx to take a look at the national rural housing perspective and related funder responses in the midst of one of the pandemic’s hidden impacts.

Speakers

Diane Kaplan, Rasmuson Foundation

Diane Kaplan became president and chief executive officer of Rasmuson Foundation, based in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2001. She served as the first employee and administrator of the Foundation for six years prior to assuming the presidency. Before joining the Foundation, Kaplan provided consulting services for philanthropic organizations, Native corporations and tribes, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to that, she served as chief executive officer of Alaska’s 28-station public radio network. Kaplan earned a degree in communications and women’s studies from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude. 
 

Kaplan is a member of the boards of the International Foundation for Research in Experimental Economics, The Alaska Community Foundation and the United States Artists. She is also a member of the Anchorage Homelessness Leadership Council, the Anchorage Rotary Club, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Community Advisory Council and Recover Alaska Governance Council. 

 

Kaia Peterson, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Montana

Kaia is passionate about the power of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) creating opportunities for people and communities who wouldn’t otherwise have access to safe, quality homes they can afford. She uses that passion to drive her work in overseeing the education and counseling program, resident-ownership, and marketing and outreach efforts at NeighborWorks Montana. Kaia has a bachelor's degree from Bates College, an MBA from the University of Washington and is a member of the Missoula Housing Authority and the Providence St. Patrick Hospital Western Montana Service Area Community Ministry board of directors. She lives in Missoula, Montana where she enjoys spending time outdoors in all seasons with her husband and two school-aged kids.

 

Corianne Scally, Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute

Corianne Payton Scally is a principal research associate in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute, where she explores the design, implementation and outcomes of affordable housing and community development policy and programs for vulnerable populations across US communities. From evaluating federal programs to assessing philanthropic investments, Corianne's research focuses on affordable rental housing — finance, construction, preservation, and community capacity and opposition — and the hardships and needs of vulnerable renters and the communities they live in. 

Scally is a former associate professor in urban planning and former affordable housing developer. From 2015 to 2016, she led data and research initiatives at the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service for the Urban Institute. She received her Ph.D. in urban planning and policy development from Rutgers University.