Spring Training
May 14 - May 15
WI-CARH Spring Training
May 14-15, 2025
Register to attend
Join your housing colleagues for the 2025 Spring Training sessions sponsored by WI-CARH. Wisconsin Council for Affordable & Rural Housing (WI-CARH) is proud to team up with US Housing Consultants for their expertise and excellent training services.
Gary Kirkman from US Housing Consultants returns to Wisconsin to be our featured speaker for the full two days. Gary will spend the first day on the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA). All MFH tenant certifications effective on or after July 1, 2025, must comply with HOTMA requirements. HOTMA has undergone many changes since it was signed into law. Take advantage of the WI-CARH Spring Training to make sure that you up to speed and ready to implement HOTMA the right way on July 1, 2025.
Gary will spend the second day devoted to Fair Housing Accommodations and Modifications (animals, live-in aides, etc.).
Topics that will be covered include the following.
- HOTMA Eligibility Essentials – HOTMA IS HERE!
HUD’s Final Rule on HOTMA results in massive changes in how we determine household eligibility. While this is a HUD rule, it is critical to understand that HOTMA not only impacts HUD Programs but also has a major impact on other affordable housing programs.
- Prepare for the Changes to LIHTC, HOME, NHTF, and RD Programs
While there are many training options out there regarding HOTMA, this session does not focus only on HUD programs, but Gary Kirkman, Director of Compliance Training for US Housing Consultants, will provide you with a comprehensive and FUN training while providing a detailed review of the HOTMA changes and how such changes impact the determination of annual income when establishing household eligibility for the following major affordable housing programs:
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- HUD Multifamily Housing
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program
- Rural Development Housing Programs
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program
- Housing Trust Funds
Topics include, but are not limited to:
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- Changes regarding the treatment of Foster Children & Adults
- Changes to the Determination of Annual Income·
- Safe Harbor Income Determination
- De Minimis Errors
- In-Kind Donations from a Food Bank or Similar Organization
- Child Support/Alimony
- Student Financial Assistance
- Changes to the Treatment of Household Assets
- Personal Property
- Trust Funds
- Retirement Accounts (Excluded Asset)
- Imputing Asset Income
- Asset Limitation (Section 8 Only (including 202/8))
- Changes to the Determination of Adjusted Income (HUD, RD & HOME Only)
- Child Care Hardship
- Disability Assistance and Medical Expenses Phased-In & General
- Hardship Relief
- Changes to Determining Annual Income at Recertification for HUD Properties (HUD MFH Only)
- Changes to Conducting Interim Recertifications (HUD MFH Only)
- Verification Methods (HUD MFH Only)
- Verification Hierarchy
- Verification of Excluded Income
- Fair Housing Accommodations/Modifications (animals, live-in aides, etc.)
Gary Kirkman, Director of Compliance Training with US Housing Consultants, will speak about reasonable accommodation and modification requests that owners/agents often receive when managing a property in this training session. What’s the difference between the two requests, who is responsible for paying for approved requests and can you deny requests?
Topics will include:
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- An overview of Service Animals/Assistance Animals
- An overview of requests for reasonable accommodations and modifications (who pays for the accommodations/modifications, and when accommodations and modifications can be denied)
- Live-In Aides
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
- 8:00-8:30 – Registration
- 8:30 – Noon – Session
- Noon – 1:00 pm – Lunch on Your Own
- 1:00 – 4:00 pm – Session
Thursday, May 15, 2025
- 8:00-12:00 Noon – Session
- Noon – 1:00 pm – Lunch on Your Own
- 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Session
Fees
WI-CARH Members: $450 or three or more at $400
Non-Members: $485 or three or more at $450
Payment
Payment can be made via PayPal or by check. Please make check payable to: WI-CARH, P.O. Box 258098, Madison, WI 53725. Sorry, credit card payments are not accepted.
Location of Spring Training and Hotel
The spring training will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 4402 East Washington Ave., Madison WI 53704.
Hotel Information:
Individual Booking: Guests can call the hotel directly at (608) 244-4703 or Hilton reservations at 800-445-8667, mentioning the Wisconsin Council for Affordable and Rural Housing or code 906. Alternatively, they can book online at Wisconsin Council for Affordable and Rural Housing Reservation Booking
Please book by April 13, 2025 to be guaranteed the group rate.
Register to attend
Meet the Speaker – Gary Kirkman
Gary Kirkman, Director of Compliance Training, US Housing Consultants
Mr. Gary Kirkman has acquired over 19 years of valuable leadership experience within the affordable housing industry and now serves as the Director of Compliance Training for US Housing Consultants.
Having started in the industry as a Regional Property Manager, Mr. Kirkman managed Rural Development and HUD properties before being promoted to Training Specialist, where he was responsible for overseeing multiple affordable communities while training personnel on the affordable housing programs.
Mr. Kirkman later became a Training Director and was responsible for developing company policies and procedures and overseeing the training program. In that position, Mr. Kirkman aided owners and developers in speaking at town councils and public meetings to establish new affordable housing properties in the needed areas.
Prior to becoming a compliance trainer, Mr. Kirkman was an award-winning Community Manager and was awarded Best Overall Compliance in Affordable Housing for the Southeast Region for a property management company portfolio.
Mr. Kirkman is an experienced and engaging public speaker. He conducts public and private trainings and speaks at housing conferences providing training on all major affordable housing programs.
Mr. Kirkman has received praise from former colleagues who have stated, “He has the ability to learn complex compliance requirements and teach them in a manner that others can learn” and “Because of his positive disposition, his reflective way of operating, and all of the character traits that make him so special, Gary’s questions never go unanswered, and his searches always bring him to exciting new discoveries.”
Mr. Kirkman’s areas of expertise focus on the following programs:
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program
- HUD Multifamily Housing Programs
- USDA RD Rental Housing Program
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program
- Fair Housing and Accessibility
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Be a Sponsor at the Spring Training
You are invited to join us as a Sponsor at the 2025 Spring Training. Please consider signing up today to be a Sponsor and help make this education and training opportunity affordable to all in the rural housing industry. Please click here for more information and to complete the form.
