Housing Matters Conference

The Housing Matters Conference, held in Bloomington, United States, served as a pivotal gathering for stakeholders in the housing and homelessness sectors. The event featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers and breakout sessions designed to address critical issues surrounding housing equity and homelessness in the United States. Opening the conference was Leah Rothstein, co-author of Just Action, whose keynote addressed the deep-rooted issues of racial segregation in housing and its implications on social and economic problems faced by communities across the country. Joining her in conversation was Andrew Greenlee, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Together, they explored actionable strategies to combat segregation through local initiatives that aim for long-term, impactful change.The conference also showcased a range of breakout workshops and sessions, including 'Expanding Homeownership: Public Policies to Increase Supply & Equity' featuring speakers Emily Bloom-Carlin from the Metropolitan Planning Council, Paula Bush from North West Housing Partnership, and Torrence Gardner from the Chicago Community Trust. This session focused on policies that strengthen homeownership opportunities for first-time and low-income buyers, emphasizing the need for affordable housing solutions. Another notable session, 'Meeting Local Housing Market Conditions with Local Solutions,' highlighted how local policies can effectively respond to unique housing market challenges in various communities, featuring speakers like Uri Pachter from the City of Evanston and Ben Schnelle from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.The conference concluded with insights from Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, who, along with Christine Haley and Sharon Legenza, discussed the importance of federal and state policies in addressing homelessness. Topics covered included the implications of changes to the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act and updates on federal housing policies. The session 'Staying the Course in a Challenging Federal Policy Climate' featured speakers from diverse organizations discussing their advocacy efforts to protect and enhance housing policies amid shifting federal priorities.Workshops such as 'Ready, Set, Go: Emergency Preparedness for Housing Counseling Agencies' led by Mary Dade and 'Making the Case: Funding the Future of Housing Counseling' with speakers from IHDA and Citi Bank provided practical insights into sustaining housing programs and preparing for emergencies. The conference also included a community tour showcasing the West Bloomington Revitalization Project, revealing collaborative efforts to restore a historically significant neighborhood through community-driven initiatives.Participants engaged in discussions on the importance of lived experience in shaping effective homeless services, illustrated in the session 'Centering Experience: Strengthening Homeless Services with Lived Experience Councils.' The conference ultimately aimed to empower attendees to advocate for housing equity and develop actionable strategies to combat homelessness, making it a significant event not only for the local audience but also for participants from across the USA and even internationally, including Ghana.