2008 Annual Meeting
Wall Street? Main Street? What About Your Street?
Learn What the Government is Doing to Address the Housing Crisis and How You Can Participate in the Solution

DATE: November 13, 2008

TIME: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

LOCATION:

Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center
701 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 1-217-544-8800

COST: Free for members and $25 for non-members

TO REGISTER:

Contact Nieta Linzy at 312-939-6074 x 204 or nieta@housingactionil.org to let us know if you will be attending or have any questions about room availability should you choose to spend the night. Please register by October 31st and indicate if you require a vegetarian meal.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Please join us for our 2008 Annual Meeting. Our theme this year is "Wall Street? Main Street? What About Your Street?: Learn What the Federal Government is Doing to Address the Housing Crisis and How You Can Participate in the Solution."

Joining together in mid-November for Housing Action Illinois' Annual Meeting provides a timely opportunity to evaluate the initial impact of the federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, signed into law in July, and any legislation regarding Wall Street that might be passed in the coming days. By the Annual Meeting, we'll also be able to discuss the outcome of the November election and what it may mean for federal, state and local housing policy in the coming year.

We hope that you will join us to participate in this discussion, and work with us to define and implement solutions to the state's affordable housing crisis. We look forward to seeing you there!

SCHEDULE:

9:30 A.M. Registration and Continental Breakfast

10:00 A.M. Welcome and Plenary Session:
Federal Response to the Housing Crisis

During the plenary, we'll provide an overview of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act and an up-to-date report on other federal responses to the housing crisis, including whatever legislation may pass regarding Wall Street. An expert panel will evaluate the local impact of the federal responses, especially in light of the November election results. All those in attendance will be encouraged to participate in the discussion.

Among its many provisions, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act provides resources to allow cities and states to buy and rehabilitate foreclosed properties, establishes the HOPE for Homeowners program to help delinquent or at-risk borrowers refinance into affordable mortgages, and creates the Housing Trust Fund to boost the nation's stock of affordable housing.

11:45 A.M. Break

12:00 P.M. Lunch

Housing Action Illinois Year in Review
Board of Directors Election
2009 Policy Agenda Review

1:15 P.M. Break

1:30 P.M. Workshops and Lobby Day at the State Capitol

Housing Developer Workshop

The housing developer workshop will consist of an analysis of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act's influence on affordable housing development, an explanation of Neighborhood Stabilization Funds, and a dialogue on recent and future trends for affordable housing developers.

Housing Counselor Workshop

The housing counselor workshop will consist of a review of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act's effects on homeownership and housing counseling agencies, as well as a roundtable discussion amongst housing counseling professionals regarding the implications of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act's provisions.

Lobbying Orientation/Lobby Day

The House of Representatives recently cancelled their session for November 13th, although the Senate still plans to meet. Therefore, we will start the afternoon session with a training on the basics of the state legislative process, strategies for successfully educating and lobbying your state legislators, and we'll also have the opportunity to discuss the details of our specific advocacy initiatives. Assuming that the Senate is still in session, we'll then proceed over to the State Capitol to talk to members of the Illinois Senate.