Housing Matters
2022
Oct. 20 – 21
Bloomington, IL
Back in person and celebrating our 35th anniversary!
Join us to spark connections, get the latest updates, & share ideas as we work together to create an Illinois where everyone has a good, affordable home.
Housing Matters
2022
Oct. 20 – 21
DoubleTree by Hilton
Bloomington, IL
Back in person and celebrating our 35th anniversary!
Join us to spark connections, get the latest updates, & share ideas as we work together to create an Illinois where everyone has a good, affordable home.
About the Conference
Each year, Housing Action Illinois brings together 200+ housing professionals who care about expanding and protecting affordable housing and ending homelessness in Illinois. Together, we build expertise, experience, and the capacity to make our communities better.
The conference is held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bloomington, Illinois.
Plenary Sessions & Member Meeting
We’re excited to bring everyone together for opening and closing plenary sessions, as well as our annual membership meeting.
During our annual membership meeting, we’ll share our recent successes and challenges, as well as goals for the coming year. Then we will welcome Diane M. Shelley, newly appointed Regional Administrator of the HUD Midwest Regional Office, for keynote remarks.
Workshops & Networking
This year, we’re bringing 12 breakout workshops related to public policy advocacy, ending homelessness, housing counseling, and affordable housing development. Get the latest updates from experts and hear about case studies that could inform your work.
We’re also planning networking opportunities such a mixer with conversation starters and a staff and board meet-and-greet to facilitate in-person connections after two years apart.
35th Anniversary Celebration
This year, we will be hosting a 35th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the conference. We look forward to seeing both familiar and new faces as we toast to our accomplishments and renew our commitment to build a better future.
We will also thank the people who make a difference in our field.
Thursday, October 20
- 8:30 am – Registration & Continental Breakfast
- 10:00 am – Opening Plenary
- 11:30 am – Breakout Workshops
- 12:45 pm – Membership Luncheon & Keynote
- 3:00 pm – Breakout Workshops
- 4:15 pm – Networking
- 5:00 pm – Reception
- 6:00 pm – 35th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Friday, October 21
- 8:00 am – Continental Breakfast, Staff & Board Meet & Greet
- 9:00 am – Breakout Workshops
- 10:45 pm – Breakout Workshops
- 12:00 pm – Lunch & Closing Plenary
Emily Hooper Lansana
Community Builder, Storyteller, Arts Administrator, Educator
For more than thirty years, Emily Hooper Lansana has performed as a storyteller, sharing her work with audiences throughout Chicago and across the country. She has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival, the National Association of Black Storytellers Festival, and at a variety of museums, colleges and performance venues. She often performs with Performance Duo: In the Spirit. Her work seeks to give voice to those whose stories are often untold, especially those of the African diaspora. Currently she serves as Senior Director of Community Arts for the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago.
Opening Keynote Session: Thursday @ 10:00am
Diane M. Shelley
HUD Midwest Regional Administrator
Diane M. Shelley, a retired Illinois judge, was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Midwest Regional Administrator. Based in Chicago, she oversees HUD’s six-state Midwest region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Regional Administrator Shelley is the regional liaison to elected officials, congressional delegations, associations, and stakeholders.
Membership Luncheon & Keynote: Thursday @ 12:45pm
Secretary Mario Treto, Jr.
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
A nationally recognized lawyer and government official, Mario Treto, Jr. was appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to serve as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on April 1, 2021. In this role, he leads and oversees the State of Illinois’ lead regulatory agency with a budget of $135 million charged with strengthening consumer protections through the licensing of over 1.2 million licensed professionals and the regulation of banking and financial services.
Closing Keynote & Luncheon: Friday @ 12:00pm
Our Sponsors
Our thanks to the generous sponsors who make our conference possible.
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsor
Partner Sponsors
Friend Sponsors
Keystone Supporters
Our thanks to the organizations joining us as 35th Anniversary Keystone Supporters.
360 Youth Services
Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Chicago Rehab Network
Community Partners for Affordable Housing
Cornerstone CDC
CSH
Dispute Resolution Institute
Dove, Inc.
IFF
Illinois Housing Council
Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living
Respond Now
South Suburban Housing Center
Spanish Coalition for Housing
Springfield Housing Authority
Statewide Independent Living Council
Together We Cope
Will County Habitat for Humanity
Woodstock Institute
ZION Development
Previous Housing Matters Conferences
Click to see session descriptions, speakers, and selected presentations from previous conferences: