CEDAM blog

In order to attend these sessions, be sure to register for the conference at housingconference.org if you have not already.

This week’s featured session is the Poverty Simulation taking place on Monday. The session is interactive, so expect it to be as exciting as it is enlightening. We highly recommend this session to those who work with low-income individuals and want to get a deeper understanding of the challenges they face.

Monday April 26

Poverty Simulation (Part 1 ~ 1:15 pm -2:45 pm, Part 2 ~ 3:15 pm-4:45 pm)

Please register in advance for this session and plan to attend both part 1 and part 2.  This interactive session will educate participants about the day to day realities of life with a shortage of money and abundance of stress faced by individuals in deep poverty. During the simulation, participants will role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain self sufficiency on Social Security. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the perspective and plight of the people they serve.

In order to attend these sessions, be sure to register for the conference at housingconference.org if you have not already.

Interested in homeownership and dealing with homes in today’s economy? Check out these three great sessions:

Tuesday, April 27

Tough Choices: Assisting Homeowners with a Dignified Exit Strategy (8:30 am – 10:00 am)

Despite the best efforts of foreclosure counseling, some homeowners simply have fallen on hard economic times and cannot keep up a mortgage; even one that would be modified. What advice does a housing counselor or local community organization provide? Hear innovative strategies from experts across the state on this critical topic.

Re-Thinking the American Dream of Homeownership: A Frank Discussion (10:15 am – 11:45 am)

Is homeownership for everyone? This controversial question is important for our industry to ask in the face of the current housing crisis and in preparing strategies for the future. Join us for a lively, informative discussion and facilitated debate. Please come prepared to share your thoughts and ideas on the subject.

Moving Homes in a Weak Market: An Innovative Best Practice (1:45 pm – 3:15 pm)

Many nonprofit housing developers are finding themselves unable to sell homes in a fragile real estate market flooded with inexpensive, abandoned and/or foreclosed homes. The Greater Lansing Housing Coalition, a nonprofit housing developer, has an innovative strategy for moving homes that is modeled after HGTV’s ‘Design on a Dime’ television show. This session will illustrate a best practice model utilizing creativity, volunteer labor, and community members to get houses sold.

Once a week from now until the Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing (MCOAH) at the end of April, CEDAM will present you with a selection of some of the exciting sessions to look forward to at this year’s conference. In order to attend these sessions, be sure to register for the conference at housingconference.org if you have not already!

Monday, April 26

When Lawmakers “Get It”: Making Community Development Programs a Priority in Lansing (1:15 pm – 2:45 pm)

We all know and believe in the importance of community development. From housing for working families, to revitalizing our communities, to helping people build long-term financial sustainability, our work is vital to our communities. So why aren’t these the priorities for all public officials, especially our State Legislature?! Successful advocacy for our work depends not just on our enthusiasm for what we do or the quality of our programs, but also on how well we communicate with and educate our state senators and state representatives. In this “Basics of Advocacy” session, learn from experts in the field about the reality of political decision making and how you can maximize the attention and support your organization receives through effective advocacy.

Best Practices in Foreclosure Counseling and Outreach (3:15 pm – 4:45 pm)

This session will feature best practices in foreclosure prevention, counseling and outreach from certified, nonprofit foreclosure counseling organizations with a proven record of success. Presenters will cover topics such as running a post-purchase counseling program in urban, suburban, and rural communities; providing examples of successful prevention and outreach efforts; and discussing techniques for organizing and empowering homeowners.