2026 Keynote Speaker
Jennifer Kye Director, Federal Housing Advocacy, Justice in Aging
Jennifer Kye, Director of Federal Housing Advocacy at Justice in Aging, joins SHA this November as our 2026 Keynote Speaker. Drawing on her national advocacy work and years of direct legal services experience, Jennifer will explore how housing, healthcare, and long-term supports intersect to shape the lives of older adults and people with disabilities.
Attendees will gain insight into the policy and advocacy strategies needed to expand access to deeply affordable, accessible, community-based housing that allows people to age in place with dignity and stability. Jennifer will also address the unique challenges facing low-income older adults and other populations who are Medicaid members, including barriers related to housing insecurity, eviction, and access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
Through examples from federal advocacy and frontline legal practice, Jennifer will highlight how responsive planning, cross-sector collaboration, and inclusive policy can strengthen communities and support healthy living at every age for older adults and other populations with special needs.
Our Keynote Speaker:
Jennifer Kye is Director of Federal Housing Advocacy at Justice in Aging and focuses on reducing housing insecurity and homelessness among low-income older adults. She works to improve access to deeply affordable, accessible, community-based housing that allows older adults to age in place with the supports they need. Jenny’s advocacy is informed by the eight years she spent in direct legal services representing older adults and people with disabilities in cases involving fair housing, eviction defense, Medicaid (including Home and Community-Based Services), and income supports such as SSI.
Jenny was formerly a supervising attorney at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) in Delaware and helped lead the program’s fair housing and public benefits work. Before her time at CLASI, she was a staff attorney at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, where she also served as a Borchard Fellow in Law & Aging. Jenny received her BA and JD from the University of Virginia.
2026 Welcome Address
Dr, Stephen Cha, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Human Services
Dr. Stephen Cha will join us at the 28th Annual New Jersey Supportive Housing Conference to present the 2026 Welcome Address.
Dr. Stephen Cha is the Commissioner of Human Services for the State of New Jersey, where he oversees programs that support the health, well-being, and economic security of millions of New Jerseyans, including Medicaid, behavioral health, disability services, aging services, and family and income supports. A physician and longtime public-sector leader, Dr. Cha brings deep experience in Medicaid, public health, and health care finance from senior roles across state and federal government as well as the private sector. Prior to joining the Sherrill Administration, he served as Counselor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, where he helped lead the federal response to COVID-19 and the infant formula shortage, and previously served as Chief Medical Officer for a large national insurance company and leadership roles at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. His career is grounded in improving systems for people who need care the most.
2026 Workshops
SHA's annual conference draws over 400 attendees addressing state, regional, and national issues. It is an educational and networking opportunity for housing and service providers, community planners, housing developers, public officials, families/individuals, and those interested in promoting and advancing supportive housing for people with special needs. The conference focuses on how the supportive housing community is breaking new ground and forming new connections to increase funding, implement new programs, and share resources to create options that promote independence.