Description

This panel will help Habitat for Humanity affiliates looking to partner with their local community land trusts. Hear from HFH Door County and HFH Greater La Crosse Region about their experiences with land trusts, as well as representatives from the Door County Housing Partnership and Milwaukee Community Land Trust, and housing educator Kelly Westlund. Moderated by Bill Kopka, Community Accountability Officer at Associated Bank, panelists will discuss the structure of community land trusts, how these trusts can help preserve affordable housing, and how Habitat affiliates can partner with their local community land trust.

Presenters

Moderator

Bill Kopka, Associated Bank

Panelists

Lori Allen has been the Executive Director of Door County Habitat for Humanity since 2020. Lori’s degree and passion for the last forty years have been in the Human Services field. Working with disabled, elderly, and low-income individuals and families to obtain safe and decent housing in whatever home environment they choose to live in. Lori has been on the Door County Home Builders Association for the past four years and was Board President for one year in 2023, making her a lifetime member. Lori also is a member of the Door County Economic Development Corporation Attainable Housing Committee. Lori was originally born and raised in Green Bay and lived there her entire life until she moved eight years ago to Door County. She lives in a small, remodeled cottage on Little Sturgeon Bay with her husband. Her two daughters are married, and she has three grandsons and one baby on the way.

Lamont Davis, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Community Land Trust

Kahya Fox

Kahya Fox is the Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region. Before taking on her new role, Kahya was the Housing Assistant Director for Couleecap, Inc., where she worked with a variety of housing and community development programs, including housing rehabilitation, home purchase, weatherization, housing counseling, flood assistance, land trust housing, and new housing construction. Working extensively with low-income families, Kahya has a very strong commitment and understanding of the issues faced by individuals in poverty. With an extensive background in public relations, Kahya brings a strong voice to housing programs. She is also a certified Housing Counselor, Housing Quality Standards Inspector, and HOME Certified Specialist.

Mariah Goode

Mariah Goode recently retired as Director of the Door County Land Use Services Department, a position she held from 2006 to 2024. She has worked in community, organizational, and land use planning roles in Door County since 1996. Mariah’s housing-related work includes serving as a founding and current board member of the Door County Housing Partnership, which follows the community land trust model to provide affordable home ownership opportunities; overhauling zoning ordinance regulations pertaining to housing; serving on the Door County Economic Development Corporation Attainable Housing Committee; serving as staff to the Door County group that worked with WHEDA on its rural affordable workforce housing pilot, and serving on the Technical Advisory Committee to the Workforce Housing Lending Corporation that grew out of that effort; and working with the 2021 UW-Madison UniverCity program, whose students studied affordable housing in Door County. Mariah lives in Baileys Harbor with her husband and two sons, in what is these days considered a very small house. 

Kelly Westlund, Housing Educator at University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Bayfield County