Innovations in Affordable Housing Finance
About This
Event
Emily Francis and Brad Hinkfuss presented the third installment in HCC’s 2026 webinar series: Innovations in Affordable Housing Finance, an in‑depth look at S3 Housing, a new purpose‑built Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development in Madison, WI creating 16 homes for people experiencing chronic homelessness. With financing secured and construction slated to begin in Fall 2026, S3 Housing offers a timely and practical case study for communities seeking to expand affordable housing and PSH capacity through intentional design, integrated services, and Housing First principles.
They explored how to identify the need for supportive affordable housing, develop a vision for service-enriched housing, and translate that vision into a viable development model. Participants were walked through the core elements of purpose‑built affordable PSH, from site selection and capital stack assembly to building design and the integration of supportive services into daily operations.
By watching this webinar, you will:
- Understand best practices in Housing First and Permanent Supportive Housing operations
- Learn how to develop a clear vision for purpose‑built PSH that aligns with community needs
- Gain insights into successful strategies for new affordable housing construction, from concept to execution
- Explore design, operational, and service‑integration considerations unique to purpose‑built PSH
- Learn about unique aspects of securing financing and navigating challenges of capital alignment
- Take away lessons learned that can inform similar projects in other communities
This webinar was designed for: affordable and supportive housing developers, homeless service and supportive service providers, architects, designers, and property managers working in affordable and supportive housing.
Emily joined HCC in February of 2026, bringing more than 15 years of diverse experience in affordable housing development, finance and policy. Prior to joining Hope Community Capital, Emily served for 7 years with WHEDA, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. During five of those years, she led the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program on behalf of the state. Emily began her career in community organizing around housing issues and also worked with a national affordable housing real estate company to develop low-income housing projects in several states.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Spanish from Beloit College and a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Brad has led Housing Initiatives as Executive Director since 2018. His background in affordable housing started in the obscure niche of self-help housing construction while serving in the US Peace Corps in Tunisia in the ’90s. This was followed by downtown redevelopment work in Illinois, and then by 20+ years of work with several non-profit housing and shelter providers in Madison, WI.
Brad has managed projects and programs as diverse as the homeless men’s drop-in shelter, domestic abuse shelter operations, major new affordable housing developments, and volunteer-led neighborhood organizations. His passion is to seek and create excellence at the intersection of housing-design, vulnerable populations, and supportive services.