Lakeside engages in issue advocacy at the local, regional, and state level to promote effective policies that lead to the creation and preservation of affordable housing opportunities. Agency staff also produces and participates in research on neighborhood housing trends, such as the 2006 Community Housing Audit. The agency works, to the greatest extent possible, in coalitions of like-minded groups and individuals whose collective efforts can best advance the agency's mission.

Lakeside's key advocacy initiatives for 2009 include:

• Implementing the Partners for Rogers Park Housing Plan, which includes goals, objectives, outcomes and deliverables in five key areas of concern. Lakeside serves as the Chair of the PRP Housing Committee, which also includes community organizations and individual residents.To date, Lakeside has helped the Committee organize educational workshops for landlords and tenants and has initiated creation of a new Rogers Park Rental Advisory Committee.

• Improving regulation of housing redevelopment, including the process by which property owners acquire permits and the consequences of redevelopment efforts on renters. Lakeside's primary initiatives in this area include reforming the process by which condominium conversions take place in Chicago and ensuring that renters have adequate time and resources to relocate. Lakeside has testified regularly to the Chicago Condo Conversion Task Force and is also working with aldermen in key communities most impacted by the condo conversion craze.

• Reducing zoning and building code barriers for property owners who wish to convert basement spaces of multifamily buildings into affordable and accessible rental apartments. Lakeside worked closely with developer Marty Cerny to help him develop this concept into a new housing program, known as Housing Plus. Lakeside is currently supporting Mr. Cerny's efforts to promote Housing Plus to developers, property owners, and public officials.

• Increasing neighborhood residents' involvement in zoning and land use decision-making, especially renters, low-income residents, and persons who support affordable housing preservation.This work occurs through the PRP Housing Committee and through Lakeside's involvement in West Rogers Park Community Organization and its Community Planning Board, which Lakeside staff helped design and implement. In 2009, Lakeside will work to complete a property inventory of Western Avenue and help WRPCO implement residents' and business owners' surveys.

• Improving regulation of condominium developments, especially for smaller, self-managed condominium associations comprised of first-time homebuyers and low- or moderate-income owners. Lakeside has advocated extensively to the city of Chicago and the Illinois state legislature on proposed reforms. Lakeside's primary goals include: creating a state ombudsman to review unit owner complaints and support board development and training; simplifying the Illinois Condominium Property Act; and, protecting condominium owners from poor development practices.

In addition to these efforts in Lakeside's target communities, the agency staff also participates in regional and statewide coalitions, including the Chicago CRA Coalition, Monsignor Egan Campaign for Payday Lending Reform, and Housing Action Illinois.