University of Oklahoma Hosts Inaugural Oklahoma Housing Supply Accelerator Coalition Event

The University of Oklahoma’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture hosted the inaugural Oklahoma Housing Supply Accelerator Coalition event on November 13, 2025, a day-long gathering dedicated to addressing the state’s growing housing challenges and exploring solutions to expand the supply of attainable homes. Held in the Buskuhl Gallery inside Gould Hall, the event brought together planners, housing advocates, developers, and policymakers from across Oklahoma to share ideas and shape a coordinated path forward.

The event was organized by the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA OK) in collaboration with the Gibbs College Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design (PLAD). Together, they developed a program designed to foster conversation, shape housing policy, and inspire meaningful change across Oklahoma communities.

The featured speaker for the event was Jason Jordan, Principal of Public Affairs for APA National. Jordan discussed the national landscape of housing policy and the critical role that local leaders play in developing effective, on-the-ground solutions. Drawing from his experience working with planners and policymakers nationwide, he emphasized the power of collaboration between state and local actors to bridge policy and practice in tackling issues of housing affordability and supply.

Following Jordan’s remarks, a panel of housing experts offered insights into the opportunities and challenges facing Oklahoma communities. The discussion, moderated by Dr. John Harris, director of the Gibbs College Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, also featured Sean Rieger of Rieger Sadler Joyce LLC, Ellen Ray of Housing Forward, Kyla Guyette of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission, and Shannon Entz from the City of Oklahoma City’s Housing Affordability Program. The panelists explored pressing topics such as workforce housing, zoning reform, financing barriers, and the need for public-private collaboration to expand housing options across Oklahoma.

In the afternoon, Naomi Dunn and Lya Trammell, PLAD graduate students, presented findings from the coalition’s initial, which gathered perspectives from housing stakeholders across the state. Survey participants identified the most significant barriers to creating new housing supply as land use and zoning obstacles, financing challenges, political or community opposition, mismatches between housing demand and supply, and ongoing construction hurdles. These findings underscored the urgency of creating policy frameworks that better align with real-world development needs and the economic realities of Oklahoma communities. Following the presentation, attendees worked in small breakout groups to share ideas and propose strategies for overcoming these challenges. 

The success of the event was made possible through the leadership of the Oklahoma Housing Supply Accelerator Coalition Steering Committee. Members included Jim Eldridge, Katie Fiddler, Dr. John Harris, AJ Kirkpatrick, Micah Snyder, Dawn Warrick, Petya Stefanoff, Jessi Stringer, and Dr. Charles Warnken. 

Following the event, Harris said, “It’s an honor to be a part of this initiative to focus on practical things Oklahoma can do in our communities to address the national housing crisis.”

This conversation builds upon the groundwork laid by the Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment, completed in 2024 by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Oklahoma and funded by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. The assessment was led by Shawn Schaefer and Francesco Cianfarani of Gibbs College, along with Ron Barnes and Joe Havlicek of the Gallogly College of Engineering, and supported by the OHFA team.

The Oklahoma Housing Supply Accelerator Coalition is following the model established by the National League of Cities and the American Planning Association through their Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a national initiative created to help local governments address the country’s housing shortage through practical, locally driven solutions. Building on similar state-level initiatives such as the Delaware Housing Supply Accelerator—which brought together policymakers, homebuilders, and housing advocates to identify regulatory and financing reforms—Oklahoma’s coalition is applying this framework to its own housing and workforce needs. The shared goal across these efforts is to increase the supply of quality, affordable housing throughout the state and nation.

Hans E. Butzer, dean of Gibbs College, reflected on the importance of the event. “Hosting the Oklahoma Housing Coalition Accelerator event serves as yet another example of how Gibbs College serves as a hub for advancing discussions, teaching and impactful research on arguably the most fundamental need of any Oklahoman--access to dignified housing.”

The Oklahoma Housing Supply Accelerator Coalition event was made possible through the support of the Gibbs College of Architecture and the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Planning Association.