Conference Summary
"[Predatory lending] is a moral issue. It is an issue that Dr. King would be concerned about today were he alive."
-John Relman, nationally renowned fair housing attorney, speaking at the conference
In response to Ohio's severe foreclosure crisis, the Ohio General Assembly enacted the Homebuyers' Protection Act (SB 185) in May 2006. The bill extends protections from predatory lenders to Ohio homebuyers and provides state and local officials with additional tools to combat these lending practices which are sapping our neighborhoods.
"Implementing Ohio's Anti-Predatory Lending Law" was a conference intended to introduce those working in community development, housing counseling, municipal and state government, the legal profession, and other fields to the key features of the new law. The conference was held on November 3, 2006 at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland; it was organized by Bromley & Associates and the Cuyahoga Community Land Trust. The conference featured nationally recognized experts on fair housing and anti-predatory lending strategies that have been successful in other communities. Over 160 participants gained information about the problems and workable remedies.
Generous support from 21 sponsors helped create critical awareness about Ohio's new anti-predatory lending law and specific steps that can be taken by municipalities and communities to attack the root causes of predatory lending.
These pages provide a summary of the conference as well as access to audio of the proceedings and other resources relating to SB 185 and predatory lending in Ohio.