Chicago Housing Authority’s Owner Symposium celebrates 13th year with third annual virtual event

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2022) – The 13th annual Chicago Housing Authority Owner Symposium, Chicago’s premier virtual event for housing providers, took interactive networking to the next level earlier this month for another information-filled week of housing education and celebration.

The week opened with messages featuring HUD Regional Administrator Diane Shelley and CHA’s Chief Executive Officer Tracey Scott, who reflected on the history of the Owner Symposium, the first of which was in 2008. The Owner Symposium has since grown exponentially – educating housing providers, launching management careers, easing generational transitions and connecting countless rental and real estate professionals across the city of Chicago.

“The first year that CHA held the Owner Symposium, the housing market was shifting, much like it is today,” CEO Scott said. “That’s why it’s critical that this event takes place year after year. In good times and in tough times. So that we can acknowledge, prepare for, and meet those challenges head on.”

Angela Hurlock, the Chairperson of the CHA’s Board of Commissioners, then moderated the opening panel titled: “A Seat at the Table” and discussed the importance of giving all Chicago housing providers a forum to ask questions, interact with others in the industry, and learn.

“We’ve brought some great industry leaders together to shed light on what it takes to make that dream a reality,” Chairperson Hurlock said. “To not only sit at the table, but be heard, and return time and time again.”

Throughout the week, subject matter experts spoke on multiple topics, from business growth, professional certifications and relationship building to fair housing, proactive pest management, disaster planning and evictions, with attendees collaborating in the livestream chat to ask questions, provide helpful resources and share their experiences.

Panel titles included: “The (Rent) Price is Right!,” “Name That Inspector” and “Would You Live Here?”

Between sessions, dozens gathered in video networking rooms to continue their conversations while hundreds more made connections and chatted one-on-one inside the secure event platform. 

On Friday, U.S. Congressman Danny Davis challenged housing providers to make a difference. CHA Commissioner Meghan Harte moderated the closing panel discussing the local and regional housing market. And Commissioner Mildred Harris provided a closing message for the week.

Access to the Symposium Week ’22 online platform, including session recordings, will remain free and open to all until the end of October at chaownersymposium.org

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ABOUT THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY (CHA)

The CHA’s vision is to foster strong, vibrant communities throughout Chicago by increasing affordable housing choices for low-income families. The CHA is also the largest rental housing owner in the City of Chicago. It serves more than 133,000 people in 63,000 households across the city through our Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Project-Based Voucher programs. For more information, visit www.thecha.org.