Call for Speakers

We strongly encourage workshop proposals from our membership and new partners advocating for affordable housing preservation and homelessness prevention through home repair, rehabilitation, and modification to keep people housed, healthy, and safe.  

We hope you consider submitting a proposal or sharing the Call for Speakers Form with contacts in your network. Proposals should reflect topics focused on the conference themes of renewing housing with equitable, accessible, and durable approaches. 

Call for Speakers Form

Day 1: October 5, 2026

Home Repair Solutions Lab – All Panel Format 

The Home Repair Solutions Lab is a facilitated, full-day intensive focused on efforts in owner-occupied spaces, designed to convert real-world insight into an actionable road map. The day begins with a plenary speaker, followed by three expert panel sessions featuring seasoned home repair and community development leaders from Atlanta and other communities. After each panel, participants move into facilitated worktables (pre-assigned tables of up to 10) to identify barriers, test solutions, and produce concrete action items. A lunchtime “experiential expert” panel will include homeowners who recently went through the repair process, grounding the day in lived experience. By the end of the session, each worktable will deliver prioritized recommendations that roll up into a shared action plan to help programs scale, reach more homeowners, and strengthen effectiveness. Explore the 2024 Detroit Home Repair Solutions Lab.

Areas of Focus:

1. Program Evaluation 

2. Building Community Partnerships 

3. Construction Project Planning 

Submit the Call for Speakers Form

Day 2: October 6, 2026

Individual Workshops 

The second day will include a set of workshops. Sessions last 60 minutes. We encourage current and new partners to bring fresh ideas and technical expertise.  Sessions with interactive components are encouraged to engage in diverse learning styles and make the learning experience memorable. Sessions can include one or multiple presenters. 

Possible topics for sessions:

1. Local Coalition Funding Coordination

2. Project Management & Efficiencies

3. Use of Data for Advocacy & Funding

Submit the Call for Speakers Form

Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, June 12, 2026

Selection Process & Speaker Responsibilities:

All proposals will be reviewed by the Conference Committee, composed of representatives from CHR member organizations and CHR staff. CHR staff will make the final selections.

Notification of Acceptance:

Session Designers will be notified of the status of their proposal by July 10, 2026.

Presenter Responsibilities:

• Make any necessary refinements based on recommendations by Coalition staff.

• Invite and confirm presenters and moderators for the session.

• Plan and participate in call(s) with presenters, moderators, and CHR staff.

• Identify and share session resources/slides with CHR staff for distribution.

• Register for the conference at a discounted rate.

• Meet all deadlines for conference materials.

The following standard audio-visual equipment will be set in each room:

Laptop, LCD projector, projection screen, wireless internet (WIFI), podium, and microphones for presenters.

Questions:

Please contact Freyja Harris at freyja@coalitionforhomerepair.org