State of Housing in Black America Issues Forum to Offer Solutions to Preserving the Legacy of Homeownership in Minority Communities

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. (NAREB), will host the State of Housing in Black America Issues Forum (SHIBA) in Atlanta on Saturday, November 19th, 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College in Southwest Atlanta.  The event is free and open to the public.

The Forum will connect current and aspiring homeowners, college students, and the general public with real estate industry experts who will shed light on the state of housing in minority communities, particularly the Black community.  The featured opening speaker will be Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor Emeritus of the historic Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and Trustee, Morehouse College.  As one of the most influential religious and civic leaders in the country, Dr. Moss will offer an historical perspective on the devastating effects of the mortgage crisis in minority communities across the country and why homeownership is important to all minority communities  

The event will feature two interactive panel discussions and a "Town Hall discussion" with industry professionals, and local and national political and community leaders, who will provide an in-depth analysis of research data, along with possible solutions, as it relates to foreclosure mitigation, disaster recovery and neighborhood blight.

Research by Atlanta Regional Housing reveals that 80% of Georgia's foreclosures filings are from Metro Atlanta.  According to RealtyTrac (2010), Metro Atlanta has the 16th highest foreclosure rate in the country with the greatest concentration occurring in Gwinnett, Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb and Clayton counties.  One of the hardest hit areas in Metro Atlanta is the Atlanta Promise Neighborhood, which consists of the 1.7 mile radius surrounding the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC), and has a startling foreclosure rate of 40%.  

"There are a lot of things that have occurred in the Black community relating to the housing crisis that many people simply are not aware of," says NAREB President, Julius Cartwright.  "That's why we are anxious to share all of our research data, and have a productive dialogue with the public, so that people will understand the ongoing impact of the mortgage fall-out in Atlanta and in other communities across the nation.  Our ultimate goal is to offer solutions that will empower people to make informed decisions that will preserve and protect the legacy of our neighborhoods and community."

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) was formed in 1947 by African American real estate professionals out of a need to secure the right to equal housing opportunities, regardless of race, creed or color. For more information, visit www.NAREBshiba.com.

Media Contacts:
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SOURCE National Association of Real Estate Brokers