The North Fork Civics of Southold will host an affordable housing forum Monday, Aug. 31, bringing together residents and community leaders to discuss how the North Fork’s housing shortage is affecting schools, businesses, families and local institutions.

Rather than featuring a traditional panel of housing experts, organizers said the forum will focus on people directly affected by the shortage and those seeing its effects firsthand.

Panelists will include Amy Brennan, principal of Cutchogue East Elementary School, who will discuss declining school enrollment and the challenges young families face finding housing; Paul Connor, chief administrative officer of Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, who will address difficulties recruiting and retaining employees because of housing costs; and several residents who will speak about their own housing challenges.

The panel is also expected to include a small business owner discussing staffing shortages and a firefighter addressing the aging of local volunteer fire departments and difficulties recruiting younger members who cannot afford to live in the area.

Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski and other town officials are expected to attend.

The forum will include presentations from the panelists followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

The event will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at CAST North Fork, at 53930 Main Road in Southold.