• Where HOTMA implementation stands and what affordable housing professionals should be watching
• Legislative developments and their potential impact on affordable housing
• RAD conversions and opportunities for expanding affordable housing
• Why more conventional operators are entering the affordable housing space — and the compliance challenges that can follow
• The increasing complexity of layered funding and why training is critical
• Updates and challenges surrounding HUD Secure Systems, EIV and NSPIRE
• Why electronic documents can improve both efficiency and resident data security
• Practical ways organizations can begin moving away from paper files
• How affordable housing organizations are beginning to use AI and automation
• Protecting resident PII when using AI and other technology
• Why AI should complement — not replace — human judgment and affordable housing expertise
• Using technology to identify anomalies, streamline compliance processes and give staff valuable time back
• The importance of starting small when adopting new technology
• What affordable housing professionals want AI to do next

Featured in this episode:

Moderator:
Rue Fox, Affordable Industry Principal, ResMan

Panelists:
Sara Hinson, Senior Vice President of Platform Operations and Business Unit Management, Inhabit
Corbin DuMont, Senior Project Manager, ResMan
Jenny DeSilva, CEO & President, DeSilva Housing Group

Recorded live at:
2026 SAHMA Leadership Affordable Housing Conference & Trade Show
Biloxi, Mississippi

• How Glenda unexpectedly found her calling in affordable housing
• Why affordable housing is, first and foremost, about people
• Breaking down the stigma surrounding affordable housing
• What it means to be "the light of the community"
• Real-world examples of resident engagement and community partnerships
• Why resident services are essential to helping people thrive
• The importance of connection—for residents and housing professionals alike
• How SAHMA's education and networking strengthen affordable housing teams
• A resident story that perfectly illustrates why affordable housing matters

Guest

• Glenda Leduc, President, Mansermar Management

About This Episode
This episode was recorded live at the 2025 SAHMA Leadership Conference.

Connect with SAHMA
Visit sahma.org to learn more about SAHMA's educational programs, conferences, advocacy efforts, and member resources.

What does a property manager really do?

If your answer is collecting rent or overseeing maintenance, you're only scratching the surface.

Today's affordable housing property managers are business leaders, compliance experts, customer service professionals, maintenance coordinators, problem solvers, and trusted resources for residents—all while leading teams and navigating an increasingly complex industry.

In this episode, Josh Johnson and Layne Hurst pull back the curtain on what the job truly requires and explain why the best property managers don't simply manage buildings—they serve people.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why property management is often misunderstood

• How the role has evolved before and after the pandemic

• Why leadership and a servant mindset matter more than ever

• The biggest surprises new property managers face

• What separates great property managers from those who struggle

• Why understanding your community should come first

• Common misconceptions from owners, vendors, and residents

• How staffing shortages are changing the industry

• Recruiting strategies for attracting the right talent

• The growing importance of technology and automation

• What continues to inspire long-time leaders in affordable housing

Guests

Josh Johnson
Chief Operating Officer
Winterwood Inc.

Layne Hurst
Senior Vice President
Hayes Gibson Property Services

• How a red wagon launched Reese's affordable housing career

• Getting his start in maintenance and learning the business from the ground up

• Moving from maintenance technician to district manager

• What a typical day looks like for the president of a management company

• The secret to staying passionate about affordable housing after 50 years

• The biggest change Reese has seen in the industry: technology

• Why the people around him helped him adapt and succeed

• How SAHMA has supported his career through networking, education, and problem solving

• The biggest benefit of SAHMA membership

• A career-defining moment: making children happy

• The legacy Reese hopes to leave behind: being fair and being available

• His advice for the next generation of affordable housing professionals

Topics discussed include:

• Getting started in affordable housing right out of high school
• Melissa's role as a Training Specialist and helping teams succeed through Yardi training and best practices
• How a job became a long-term career
• The senior residents who inspired her passion for affordable housing
• The story of Roger and the power of human connection
• Why Melissa volunteers and stays involved with SAHMA
• Common misconceptions about affordable housing
• "Where will the seniors go?"—the importance of affordable housing in our communities
• Building positive relationships between affordable housing communities and their neighbors
• Advice for those considering a career in affordable housing

The SAHMA Exchange is a podcast where policy, people, and property management meet.

Episode Overview

Affordable housing advocacy is often viewed as something that happens in Washington, D.C., but the reality is that every affordable housing professional has a role to play in shaping the future of the industry.

In this episode, Larry Keys and Glenda Leduc discuss why advocacy matters, how public perception influences policy decisions, and why lawmakers need to hear directly from the people managing affordable housing communities every day.

Key Discussion Topics

The Challenges Facing Affordable Housing
• Housing supply shortages
• Preservation of existing affordable housing
• Funding pressures
• Resident outcomes and community impact

Why Advocacy Matters
• The importance of industry participation
• The role of property management voices
• Educating lawmakers on operational realities
• Moving legislation across the finish line

Policy vs. Reality
• Federal and state regulatory challenges
• Operational realities at the property level
• Compliance complexities
• The need for practical policymaking

Public Perception and Misconceptions
• Affordable housing stigma
• Workforce housing realities
• Seniors and housing affordability
• Why storytelling matters

Advocacy in Action
• How real-world stories resonate with lawmakers
• Larry's "People, Place, Purpose" framework
• Practical ways to engage in advocacy
• Why every housing professional's voice matters

Memorable Quotes

"Our job is to make it hard for lawmakers to look the other way."

"We're not just dealing with buildings. We're dealing with lives."

"If we're not telling the affordable housing story, someone else will."

For more resources, educational opportunities and industry updates, visit SAHMA.org and subscribe to The SAHMA Exchange wherever you listen to podcasts.

Recorded live at the 2025 SAHMA Leadership Conference.

In this episode:
• Tony’s unexpected start in affordable housing in 1993
• What a VP of Operations role really looks like day to day
• How affordable housing has evolved over the last 30 years
• The growing complexity of regulations and compliance
• How leaders stay informed in a constantly changing industry
• HOTMA conversations and affordable housing humor
• The story behind Tony’s “Cookie Monster” nickname
• Why SAHMA leadership has meant so much to him
• Supporting residents through reasonable accommodations and community-building
• Improving public perception around affordable housing

Memorable moments:
• Tony sprinting out of the interview after thinking he won a raffle prize
• The “Weird Al of Affordable Housing” HOTMA song
• Cookie Monster’s special appearance

About The SAHMA Exchange:
The SAHMA Exchange is a podcast where policy, people, and property management meet — featuring conversations with affordable housing leaders across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.

• What “home” means to today’s senior residents
• Needs vs. wants in senior housing communities
• When safety, independence, and dignity conflict
• Real-world decision-making at the property level
• Staff pressures: resident satisfaction vs. liability
• Fair Housing and regulatory challenges
• The role of family communication
• Technology and AI in senior housing
• What dignity really looks like in practice
• Advice for property managers and service coordinators

Stats Referenced in This Episode

• More than 2 million older adults live in federally assisted housing
  https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-featd-article-081417.html
• Nearly 1 in 3 older adults are cost-burdened
  https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/one-three-older-households-cost-burdened
• Senior housing occupancy nearing 90% in many markets
  https://seniorhousingnews.com/2026/04/23/average-senior-living-occupancy-surpasses-90-as-low-development-levels-signal-scarcity-ahead/

Featured Guests

Eric Kager
Executive Vice President
Benchmark Management Corporation

Ron Budynas
Chief Operating Officer
Wesley Living

Key Takeaways

• Affordable housing careers often begin unexpectedly—but become long-term, purpose-driven work
• Compliance plays a critical role in preserving and expanding access to housing
• Professional development and community are essential in a complex, evolving industry
• Breaking stigma requires collective effort across the industry
• Behind every policy and process are real people and life-changing outcomes

Key Industry Insights & Statistics

• The U.S. is currently short more than 7 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income households, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (https://nlihc.org/news/nlihc-releases-gap-2026-shortage-affordable-homes)
• There are only 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renters (https://nlihc.org/news/nlihc-releases-gap-2026-shortage-affordable-homes)
• More than 11 million U.S. households are considered severely cost-burdened, spending over 50% of their income on housing (https://nlihc.org/news/nlihc-releases-gap-2026-shortage-affordable-homes)
• 74% of extremely low-income renters are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half their income on housing (https://nlihc.org/news/nlihc-releases-gap-2026-shortage-affordable-homes)
• These renters make up a significant portion of the population and are often working in low-wage jobs, seniors, or individuals with disabilities (https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/affordable-housing-shortage-national-low-income-housing-coalition)
• Property management faces elevated turnover, with industry data from the National Apartment Association (NAA) and National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) showing rates typically in the 30–35% range annually, significantly higher than many other sectors. (https://butterflymx.com/blog/multifamily-employee-turnover-rate)
• Workforce development and retention remain critical challenges in property management, with industry research highlighting staffing and recruitment as a primary concern and emphasizing the need for ongoing training and skill development to support a rapidly evolving regulatory environment. (https://knowledge.highmatch.com/hubfs/HM-Hiring-Challenges-in-Property-Management.pdf)

Show Notes / Links

Sensory Stickers

Tennessee SAHMA | May 20-21 | Nashville | Link

Research & Data Referenced in This Episode

Managers experience higher stress and burnout than non-managers
Gallup research shows managers report higher levels of stress and burnout than the employees they supervise.

83% of U.S. workers report work-related stress
The American Institute of Stress estimates that 83% of U.S. workers experience work-related stress, highlighting the widespread nature of workplace pressure.

Burned-out employees are 2.6× more likely to seek another job
Gallup research found that employees who frequently experience burnout are 2.6 times more likely to be actively seeking a new job.

Employee disengagement costs hundreds of billions globally
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report estimates that declining employee engagement costs the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually in lost productivity.

• 51% of extremely low-income renter householders are seniors or people with disabilities.
• 40% are in the labor force, in school, or are single-adult caregivers (including caregivers of children or family members with disabilities).
• Of extremely low-income renters in the labor force, 42% usually work full-time (40+ hours/week).
  • from the National Low Income Housing Coalition Website