About the Conference:

In 2008, foreclosure deeds totaled nearly 13,000 in Massachusetts, an increase of 400% since 2006. While foreclosures have affected all regions of the state, they have been disproportionately concentrated in low and moderate income neighborhoods.

Local, state, and federal governments have launched a variety of programs and initiatives to reduce foreclosures and stabilize neighborhoods impacted by foreclosed properties. Most recently, President Obama announced a broad-based plan to assist seven to nine million homeowners across the country.

This conference will focus on implementation of these initiatives at the local level. What strategies have been effective? What more needs to be done to stem the tide of foreclosures? The conference is geared towards a wide audience including municipal officials, housing counselors, lenders, community-based developers, advocates, practitioners, policy makers, and others.

Please click here for the conference brochure.

Location:

College of the Holy Cross, Worcester MA

Co-Sponsors:

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
Massachusetts Bankers Association
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association
MassHousing
NeighborWorks America
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Agenda:

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks – Vincent O’Donnell, President, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association and Vice President, Affordable Housing Preservation Initiative, Local Initiatives Support Corporation

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Plenary Session: Assessing Progress on Responses to the Foreclosure Crisis

Moderator:
Joe Kriesberg, President, Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations

Speakers:

• Tina Brooks, Undersecretary, Department of Housing and Community Development
• John Taylor, President and CEO, National Community Reinvestment Coalition
• Christopher Foote, Senior Economist and Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Morning Workshops

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch and Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker:
Eric Belsky, Executive Director, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon Workshops – Set 1

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Workshops – Set 2

Workshop descriptions can be found in the conference brochure.

Registration:

The conference registration fee is $65.00 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and conference materials.

Please register online or by mailing in the form in the conference brochure to CHAPA by June 15, 2009.