Mortgage & LGBT Leaders Collaborate for Diversity in Chicago

In spite of many advances made, LGBT individuals continue to face discrimination in many sectors of modern life, and that includes the worlds of finance and housing. LGBT youth continue to make up an abnormally high percentage of the United States’ homeless population, and local housing assistance services don’t always have systems in place to help combat that trend. LGBT individuals also sometimes face discrimination or limitations on access to financial services. How can the mortgage industry adapt and evolve to meet the needs of this segment of the population? The American Mortgage Diversity Council is working to try and answer that question.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, The American Mortgage Diversity Council (AMDC), in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Chicago, will host a town hall discussion with leaders from the Chicago LGBT community. The meeting is the second in a series of town halls to be convened by the AMDC with LGBT community leaders from major cities across the nation.

John Rieger, Executive Director for the American Mortgage Diversity Council, said, “The American Mortgage Diversity Council is a membership-driven organization of companies in the financial services industry working collaboratively to advance the conversations around diversity and inclusion by focusing on challenges faced by minority- and women-owned businesses, creating solutions through advocacy, education, and training.”

The first AMDC town hall occurred in Dallas, Texas, in December 2017, including representatives from US Bank, MSI, Accumatch, Bank of America, Mr. Cooper, and the Five Star Institute, as well as community leaders from local LGBT organizations and charities. Topics discussed included housing protections for LGBT individuals, federal programs that encourage LGBT homeownership, workplace inclusiveness and discrimination protections, and unconscious bias training.

Five Star President and CEO Ed Delgado said, “Five Star and the American Mortgage Diversity Council are proud to continue uniting mortgage industry and LGBT leaders with this series of town hall discussions. The promotion of diversity and inclusion is crucial for all sectors of society and business."

For more information, click here to view the AMDC’s website.