Housing 2016

A snapshot of CRN's 2009 conference on shaping the field of affordable housing and community development over the next eight years.

Framework for the Housing 2016 Event

With many decades of community development success as their guide, particularly in neighborhoods where foreclosure crises are not new, Chicago's leading housing practitioners and policy experts met to discuss solutions for how to right the nation's housing sector -- and the national economy along with it.

Trickle-down market approaches and over-zealous ownership initiatives have destroyed the historical stability and prosperity of middle class home ownership. To restore stability and prosperity many feel that a bottom-up approach that recognizes affordability as the linchpin is required.

Chicago has been particularly hard hit by the housing crisis. More that 1,000 foreclosure filings are recorded each month and the rental housing inventory, a mainstay for Chicago's workforce, has accounted for a third of foreclosed households.

Housing 2016: What Can Be Accomplished in the Next 8 Years drew more than 200 guests to its panel discussion and update from Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) on January 12, 2009. This page will be the clearinghouse for information on that forum, future events, and opportunities for action.

Call to Action

While the seeds of this forum were still germinating in the minds of all the experienced and creative community developers that attended, with bold and positive ideas later springing forward, one immediate opportunity for action presented itself. As Congresswoman Schakowsky mentioned at the conference, details on the Economic Recovery program were not yet set in stone. CRN provided next steps by encouraging attendees to call their representatives and tell them to make funding for Affordable Rental Housing the center of any Economic Recovery Program.

Forum Materials

The Housing 2016 forum featured a number of housing fact posters, bringing CRN's research and policy assets to the front by providing impactful and easy-to-understand analysis and comparison from the 2009 housing environment.

Follow-up Event

The Chicago Rehab Network hosted a Workshop to Prepare for Federal Stimulus Dollars to prepare and inform CDCs and CBOs for the impact the funds could have on our communities. Nearly fifty participants representing a wide range of CDCs and CBOs added their voices to this important discussion.  Thank you to the Renaissance Collaborative for sharing its space within the historic Wabash YMCA. The workshop speakers shared the highlights of the Stimulus Bill and it was clear that the work is not yet over.  We urged attendees to use the information generated in the workshop to get in contact with their Congressional Representatives and to prepare your own “shovel ready” projects.

Housing 2016 Panelists

MODERATOR

Thom Clark Community Media Workshop

FIRST PANEL                  
FEATURED SPEAKER

Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-9), US House of Representatives

SECOND PANEL

Press

Chicago Magazine

MacArthur Foundation

MacArthur Award Winner

The Chicago Rehab Network is a proud recipient of the 2006 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

Learn more about the award »

Support Development Without Displacement

With your help we can build strong neighborhoods, strengthen capacity, and cultivate community leadership.

Donate today »

           

Stay Connected

Follow us to stay up-to-date on the latest news at CRN. 

Sign up for our newsletter »