Civics 101 Forum
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Thurs., Nov. 21, 6-8 PM
FPB Community Room - Don’t miss this discussion!

The next Together Frankfort’s Civics 101 Series will focus on the lack of affordable housing in our community.

Wendy Smith from Kentucky Housing Corporation will present on the Housing Supply Gap Assessment done by KHC - looking at the overall situation statewide and then narrowing in on Franklin County. 

In addition, there will be an overview of strategies communities are using to address their housing shortages.

The forum will take place on Thursday, November 21, 6-8 PM, in the Frankfort Plant Board Community Room, 151 Flynn Ave.

Together Frankfort is a non-partisan, volunteer organization formed seven years ago to encourage civic education and involvement and voter registration. Membership is open to all!

OUR SPEAKER

Wendy K. Smith
Deputy Executive Director, Housing Programs
Kentucky Housing Corporation

With 28 years’ experience in affordable housing and community development, Wendy joined KHC in 2013, becoming Deputy Executive Director of Housing Programs in 2018. 

Wendy leads over 20 federal and state housing programs including affordable multifamily rental development, rent assistance for nearly 28,000 Kentucky households each month, homeownership opportunities, and housing solutions for Kentuckians experiencing homelessness.  She oversees state programs such as the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Rural Housing Trust Fund. Wendy also oversees compliance and asset management for KHC’s multifamily portfolio.

Her current work is focused on helping Kentucky recovery from major natural disasters and address the severe housing supply shortage faced by communities across the Commonwealth.  Wendy views the housing supply gap as Kentucky’s most urgent housing issue, as it impacts Kentuckians around the Commonwealth and across many income ranges.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Wendy led KHC’s deployment of over $350M in new, one-time relief funds from Treasury and HUD.

Prior to joining KHC, Wendy worked as a HUD technical assistance and training consultant, led a community development corporation in Dayton, OH, and worked as a community organizer in Cincinnati, OH.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Social Work from Miami University in Ohio and a master’s in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati.  

For detailed credentials: Wendy K. Smith | LinkedIn

Civics 101

Over the years Together Frankfort has organized and hosted a variety of events designed to inform and engage the citizens of Frankfort. New for 2024 is Civics 101 - a series of forums to help us understand issues important to our community.

Frankfort Plant Board has graciously agreed to let us meet in their community room, at 151 Flynn Ave., so please join us to hear local speakers address the issues, with time for questions and answers at the end.

>>> In case you missed them, here are links to recent Civics 101 Forums - with many thanks to our good friends at the Frankfort Plant Board:

January 25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTeLMbh6sY&t=4s

February 15: https://youtu.be/LxZXNk-LXN0

March 21: https://youtu.be/PPuvXyC2z0w

April 18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2sog7907mE&t=52s

Forum schedule

• January 25 - Is Our Public Utility in Danger of Going Private?

• February 15 – Revolving Door: 12 City Managers in 21 Years! Is this Form of Government Working for Frankfort?

• March 21 – Learn About our Local Government and What We Can Do To Influence it

• April 18 – Finances – Where Does the Money Go?

• May 16 – What Are They Hiding? An Assault on Open Government

• June 20 – The Court v. The Voters, with UK Law Prof. Josh Douglas

• August 29 - Special Town Hall to Discuss the Plastic Waste Reduction Ordinance

• September 19 - Project 2025: What Does it Mean to You?

• October 17 - Public $$$ for Private Schools? Who Can Vote?