LPRAC HOUSING SUMMIT

 

The LPRAC will be hosting a housing summit, addressing affordable housing and the sub-prime lending crisis

and its disproportionate affect on Latino communities in the state, on July 30, 2008 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The

event, which be held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut, will bring together the state's

top minds in the housing and finance arenas including:

• Luis Caban - national board member of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute and Executive Director of the Southside Institute Neighborhood Alliance (SINA)
• William Cibes, Chairman of HomeConnecticut and Chancellor Emeritus, Connecticut State University
• Howard Pitkin - Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Banking
• Raphael Podolsky - Legal Assistance Resources Center
• As well as Elected Officials and representatives of HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and more.

 

The goal of the event is to educate while strengthening the network of state housing organizations and

building a cadre of people and organizations willing to advocate for and testify on future housing legislation.

 

 

Schedule of Activities

Registration and continental breakfast (8:15 – 8:45 am)

 

Welcome Address (9:00 – 9:10 am)

            - LPRAC Chairman Carlos Alvarez

 

Keynote Introduction (9:10 – 9:15 am)
            - LPRAC Executive Director Fernando Betancourt

 

Keynote Speaker (9:15 – 9:50 am)

            - Hon. Nelson Diaz (ret.), former HUD General Counsel

 

Instructions and Break (9:50 – 10:00 am)

            - Fernando Betancourt

 

Plenary Session (10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.)

Housing Legislation Year in Review

 

Description/Goal

This panel is a review of state and national housing legislation in the past year and a forward look at what

actions we can anticipate from our legislators in the upcoming legislative session in regards to the sub-prime

crisis and affordable housing. The goal of this session is to educate participants about legislation that is affecting

 and will affect the housing market in the areas of home financing, affordable housing and foreclosure, and

build a cadre of people willing to advocate for these measures when needed. 

 

Moderator: Luis Caban, Executive Director, SINA

 

Panelists:

Erin Kemple, Executive Director, CT Fair Housing Center

Rafael Podolsky, Attorney, Legal Assistance Resource Center

David Fink, Policy and Communications Director, Partnership for Strong Communities and the Lyceum

 

 

Workshop 1 (11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.)

Understanding the Mortgage Crisis

 

Description/Goal

This panel will be a discussion on the causes of the sub-prime crisis, its impact in the state, its consequences,

actions being taken to correct the situation and ways out for those at-risk. The goal is to end speculation

and finger pointing as to the roots of the problem and educate those in attendance on what is being done

and what the “at-risk” can do. 

 

Moderator: Carol J. Heller, Senior Vice President Bank of America

 

Panelists:

Howard Pitkin, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Banking

Carol DeRosa, CHFA

Jeff Blodgett, Connecticut Economic Resource Center

 

Lunch (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 pm