The Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the “Voice for Real Estate” in Chicago since 1883, represents 16,000+ members from all real estate specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions and residential sales.
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Join us for a focused 75-minute webinar featuring three expert perspectives on fair housing in Chicago today. Each speaker will deliver a concise power presentation designed to help you better serve your clients across our communities.
We’ll hear from leaders representing the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Fair Housing Alliance as they share insights on:
Fair Housing compliance in Chicago — understanding protected classes, common violations and practical steps you can take, as REALTORS®, to reduce risk and stay aligned with the law.
Housing Choice Vouchers explained — separating fact from fiction and addressing common misconceptions that can unintentionally limit housing opportunities.
A pathway to homeownership for voucher holders — an introduction to the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program and its innovative peer mentorship model connecting current homeowners with future buyers.
You’ll leave with practical knowledge and resources you can share with clients, colleagues and brokerages to help expand housing opportunity across Chicago.
April is Fair Housing Month!
This is a time to reflect on the role housing professionals play in creating equitable access to housing and ensuring compliance with the laws that protect it.
Registration will close on Thursday, April 16th at 9:30 AM.
Location
This is a virtual event
A reminder with the event link will be emailed to you two hours prior to the event start time.
You must be logged into your Eventbrite account with the same email you used to register for the event.
Event Speakers:
Event Host
Cassandra (Ms. Cass) Sneed
Vice-President of Community Engagement | EXIT Strategy Realty
Adam Ballard
Executive Director | Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance
KRISTEN LEE
Director of Compliance | Chicago Commission on Human Relations
JESSICA MALLON
Director of Policy and Fair Housing | Chicago Housing Authority
Speaker Bios:
Tap each speakers’ name below to expand their bio.
Adam Ballard | Executive Director, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance
Adam has a demonstrated career history in advocating for housing choice and transportation access for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Adam began his career as a community development organizer in housing at Access Living, where he would build his career as a housing and transportation policy analyst. He most recently served as an Associate State Director at AARP Illinois where he was instrumental in shaping policy and advocacy agendas in housing and transportation, while also working with AARP’s Livable Communities team nationwide.
Adam is an active member of several boards and committees dedicated to advancing racial equity, disability justice, wealth building, public health, and climate resilience within region. He is passionate about building relationships that allow change to happen – from grass roots leaders and those who are most affected by broader policy decisions, all the way up to partnerships with stakeholders and decision makers who can help implement those changes on a widespread level.
Kristen Lee | Director of Compliance, Chicago Commission on Human Relations
Kristen Lee serves as the Director of Compliance for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, a role she has held since September 2022. An experienced attorney with a strong commitment to public service, she leads the Commission’s fair housing enforcement efforts and oversees investigations into discriminatory housing practices. Her work supports the Commission’s mission to advance civil rights in Chicago through enforcement, education, and community engagement.
Lee is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and UIC Law School, and she is licensed to practice law in Illinois. She and her husband, Sean, live in Chicago with their daughter, Grace, and enjoy exploring the city together.
Jessica Mallon | Director of Policy and Fair Housing, Chicago Housing Authority
Jessica L. Mallon is the Director of Fair Housing & Policy, where she oversees Housing Choice Voucher compliance at the Chicago Housing Authority.
Register below
event policy
Space is limited. Please click here for more information on Chicago REALTORS® event attendance and cancellation policy. A limited quantity of on-site registrations will be accepted, pending availability.
By registering to participate in this event, you hereby acknowledge and consent that The Chicago Association of REALTORS® (and their assignees) may take photographs and/or video of you during the event and may use those photographs and recordings for the Association’s purposes, including but not limited to news, publicity and fundraising purposes, without further compensation to you. All such photos and videos are the sole property of the Association.
Professional recordings intended for commercial purposes without prior written authorization from association leadership are strictly prohibited. Learn more about the association’s Professional Recording Policy.
The Chicago Association of REALTORS® (Chicago REALTORS®) is committed to creating a safe and inclusive experience for our community and providing a friendly and welcoming environment for all. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Please act professionally and follow our Code of Conduct at all Chicago REALTORS® events. Do you require special accommodation? If so, please identify any special accommodation by emailing events@chicagorealtor.com at least one week prior to the event date.
