July Triad Housing Hangout: Community Conversations on Regional Housing

Join regional housing partners for a timely conversation on modular and manufactured homes as tools for infill and affordable housing.
About this Event

Event Description

Join us for the July Triad Housing Hangout on Wednesday, July 22, from 1:00–2:00 PM at the Forsyth County Central Library.

This month’s Hangout will feature a panel discussion on modular and manufactured homes and their potential role in expanding affordable housing supply across the Piedmont Triad. As communities across Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and the surrounding region look for ways to produce more housing more quickly and affordably, factory-built housing options are receiving renewed attention.

The conversation comes at an especially important moment. Federal housing policy discussions are increasingly focused on manufactured housing, modular construction, off-site building methods, financing barriers, ADUs, and local land-use reform. At the same time, local governments, nonprofit housing providers, and mission-driven developers are looking for practical tools to make infill development, small-lot construction, duplexes, ADUs, and other “gentle density” strategies more feasible.

This Hangout will bring together industry representatives to discuss what today’s modular and manufactured homes actually look like, how they are built, how they are financed, where they can be placed, and what local partners need to understand if these products are going to help meet regional housing needs.

Featured Panelists

Scott Hicks, Clayton Homes
Cole Fuller, Fleetwood Homes
Bryan Phelan, Champion Homes

Discussion Topics

The panel will explore questions such as:

How do today’s modular and manufactured homes differ from older public perceptions of “mobile homes”?

What products are most appropriate for infill lots, ADUs, duplexes, small lots, and affordable homeownership?

How do modular and manufactured homes compare with site-built construction in terms of cost, quality, durability, timing, and energy performance?

What are the key financing, appraisal, titling, insurance, and permitting issues that buyers, developers, and local governments need to understand?

How might federal policy changes affect manufactured housing, modular construction, and off-site building methods?

What local zoning, land-use, infrastructure, and permitting barriers still limit broader use of these products in the Triad?

How can public agencies, nonprofit developers, community land trusts, builders, lenders, and advocates work together to test and scale these models responsibly?

What to Expect

Networking with a cross-sector mix of planners, developers, builders, service providers, landlords, advocates, funders, realtors, lenders, and local government partners.

Brief presentations from modular and manufactured housing industry representatives.

Facilitated discussion on how factory-built housing could support infill development, ADUs, affordable ownership, and gentle density.

Audience Q&A and open dialogue on practical opportunities for collaboration.

Regional focus — open to anyone working in or interested in housing from Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Randolph, Rockingham, and beyond.

Drinks and light refreshments provided.

Location and Parking

Forsyth County Central Library
660 W 5th St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Parking is available in the library lot across the street at the corner of 5th Street and Spring Street.

Triad Housing Hangout

The Triad Housing Hangout is a practical and solutions-oriented monthly gathering that brings together housing professionals, advocates, developers, local officials, and community partners from across the Piedmont Triad to stay connected, share what is working, and learn from one another.

The series was relaunched to create an ongoing “community conversation” space where local and regional leaders can surface timely housing challenges, highlight promising initiatives, and translate information into action.

Each Hangout features a short, focused presentation or panel, often spotlighting a local initiative, policy update, or program opportunity, followed by open discussion and networking.

At a glance:

When: Monthly, typically on the last Wednesday of the month, 1:00–2:00 PM
Where: Forsyth County Central Library, 660 W 5th St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Format: Featured panel or presentation, facilitated conversation, networking
Who should attend: Anyone working on or impacted by housing, including local government, nonprofit and philanthropic partners, developers, builders, lenders, realtors, service providers, advocates, and residents

The goal is simple: make it easier for the Triad’s housing ecosystem to coordinate by sharing information quickly, lifting up promising practices, and strengthening the relationships that move housing solutions forward.