2026 Housing Solutions & American Success Summit
A sold-out gathering, now a lasting resource. We have gathered the day's conversations, research, and materials into one place so this community can keep building for tomorrow.
Thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a success.
A single, urgent question
Can a working family in California still buy a home? For one day, policymakers, developers, lenders, researchers, and community leaders gathered at Chapman University to answer it — anchored by the new report Rebuild the Homeownership Ladder and two panels of the people closest to the problem.
The program
The two panel line-ups from the day.
Words of support
Held in observance of National Homeownership Month, the summit was recognized by leaders at every level of government — from Washington to City Hall — for putting attainable homeownership back on the public agenda.
Honored by the City of Orange
At Orange City Hall, Councilmember Arianna Barrios, whose district includes Chapman University, presented a City of Orange proclamation declaring June as National Homeownership Month. Within that proclamation, the 2026 Housing Solutions & American Success Summit was recognized as a civic engagement effort that helps mobilize leadership around housing and homeownership.
From left: Councilmember Arianna Barrios, Marshall Toplansky, Mahnaz Asghari, Karla López del Río, Joel Kotkin, and Alexander E. Hayden — receiving the City of Orange National Homeownership Month proclamation, which recognized the summit's civic engagement work.
Rebuild the Homeownership Ladder
California's Housing Crisis: Market Failure in Attainable Homeownership
By Karla López del Río, Senior Fellow · June 2026 · Center for Demographics and Policy, Chapman University.
California can build homes for the wealthy and subsidized rentals for the lowest incomes — but it has stopped producing the middle rungs that working families can actually buy. The report lays out the demand, the delivery problem, and the innovations that could put ownership back within reach.
The report at a glance — two-page flyer
A two-page visual summary of the report — the crisis, and the fix. Click either page to open the full flyer, or download it below.
The slides from the event
Watch & revisit
The complete summit will be featured on the Feudal Future podcast in the coming months — the full program, every panel, start to finish.
Feudal Future
Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky explore what it takes to expand opportunity for the global middle class — supported by the Center for Demographics and Policy.
Listen to Feudal FutureMoments from the summit
What participants said
After the summit, participants recorded short video testimonials about what the day meant — and why they'll be back in 2027.
Thank you to our sponsors
This summit was made possible by partners who believe working families deserve a path to ownership.
Our advertisers
With gratitude to the organizations that advertised in the 2026 summit program and helped make the day possible. Tap the Focused Point ad to open the full housing data one-pager.
Sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement. Chapman University does not endorse any candidate, campaign, or political party.
Share your experience
Your feedback shapes the 2027 program, and it takes about three to four minutes. No Google account is required.
Save the date
The 2027 Housing Solutions & American Success Summit returns to Chapman University. Be the first to know when registration opens — and join us in rebuilding the ladder.
Get involved in 2027
The 2026 summit was built by this community — and 2027 will be too. There are three ways to take a seat at the table.
Join a planning committee
Help shape what comes next. Choose the committee where your passion and expertise are strongest:
- Planning — recruit speakers, make introductions, and grow the Summit.
- Research — guide the research, review feedback, and build the knowledge base.
- Sponsorship — identify and steward the supporters who make it possible.
Become a 2027 sponsor
Sponsorship keeps the summit free of charge to the families and practitioners who need it most. Gold, Silver, and Bronze packages are available — we'll share the 2027 prospectus and tailor a fit for your organization.
Request the prospectusAdvertise with us
Place your message in front of the policymakers, developers, and lenders shaping California's housing future. Full-, half-, and quarter-page ads are available in the printed event program and across summit channels.
Explore ad optionsQuestions? Contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director — asghari@chapman.edu · (714) 744-7635.
