AARP Foundation would like to invite you to the Excellence in Housing Counseling for the 50+ Roundtable on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at AARP Foundation Headquarters.

With the mission of ensuring that Americans 50+ have access to adequate and affordable housing, AARP Foundation’s Housing Impact Area has thus far focused on providing information and counseling on foreclosure prevention through the Housing Solutions Center. Due to the continued severity of the housing crisis, the Housing Solutions Center is seeking to expand, and wishes to explore all options it may take in ensuring that home owners have the information needed to make sound financial decisions regarding their most vital asset.  

The Roundtable will bring together housing industry experts, including members of financial institutions, law firms, counseling agencies, foundations, community-based organizations, and government agencies.  Please RSVP by Friday, July 27.

Agenda

12:00      Registration and Lunch

12:30      Welcome and Introductions—Vivian Vasallo, AARP Foundation, VP Housing Impact Area

12:40      Housing Solutions Center Overview—Maicie Jones and Scott Adkins, AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation has connected nearly 500,000 vulnerable older adults with foreclosure-prevention information through its peer-led volunteer outreach. As older adults increasingly struggle to keep their homes, the Housing Solutions Center will connect families to housing counseling services on issues such as reverse mortgage, refinance, etc. Learn how effective peer-led volunteerism connected to counseling can lead to the preservation of affordable housing for low-income 50+

1:00      Reverse Mortgage Counseling: Risks and Rewards—Betsy Cromwell, HUD, Housing Specialist

An overview of the evolution of reverse mortgages and the counseling standards required for those considering a reverse mortgage. Given the complex nature of this product, some would argue that now more than ever, older adults need access to information that helps them understand the advantages and pitfalls of reverse mortgages.   

1:15      Questions and answers

1:30       Reverse Mortgage Roundtable Conversations

Is there a need for more or improved reverse mortgage counseling? Do the rewards outweigh the risks? How can AARP Foundation play a role in helping older adults be better informed?

2:30       Break

2:45       What does the future landscape look like? —Mark Cole, CredAbility, Chief Operating Officer

With at least 13 million low-income 50+ living in unaffordable housing and more families aging with mortgages, it is more important now than ever to understand the options available. What do older adults need to know about their housing finances?  Where do they turn for information?  How can counselors play a role? 

3:00       Questions and answers

3:15       Housing Counseling for the 50+ Roundtable Conversations

What are the greatest future needs for housing counseling among those 50+? What types of counseling would be an appropriate offering for the Housing Solutions Center?

4:15      Closing Remarks—Maxine Baker, AARP Foundation, SVP Impact Areas

Networking reception will immediately follow closing remarks

5:00       Roundtable Concludes

Speaker Bios:

Betsy Cromwell is a Housing Policy Specialist in the FHA Single Family Program Development Program Support Division.  Betsy has a total of 31+ years experience in Federal housing programs with the USDA Rural Development and for the last 9 years with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  She began working for FHA in 2002, where she worked in the Home Mortgage Insurance Division.   In 2006, she began working in the Program Support Division, where she works with housing counseling intermediaries and HECM counseling issues.  Betsy received her BS from the University of Delaware.

Mark Cole is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CredAbility and is responsible for the agency's direct services to financially distressed individuals and families.  He oversees the agency’s contact center, counseling, debt management services, quality assurance and technology functions, with a focus on delivering compassionate service and innovative and practical solutions.  Cole also leads CredAbility’s research efforts, measuring the effectiveness of services and developing new assessment tools like the Consumer Distress Index.

Cole has been involved in the counseling service sector for more than 20 years, active at both the local and national level before to joining the agency in 2000. Previously he served as President of Phoenix-based Personal Debt Solutions, Chief Operating Officer for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and President of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Fort Worth.

Send questions to Andrew Shao at ashao@aarp.org or 202.434.3833.