The day-long event featuring Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott City Center in downtown Oakland. The conference will address the topic "Growth, Displacement and Affordable Housing: A Rural and Urban Perspective."

The event will focus on national and local strategies to increase production of affordable housing and ways to improve access to financing for individual home purchases. The event was scheduled by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) in cooperation with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Presentations will examine how cities and communities can form partnerships with Fannie Mae, banks and housing developers to provide affordable housing for those being displaced by rapidly rising rents and home prices.

Particular emphasis during the event will focus on the needs of minorities. According to the Congressional Black Caucus, the rate of home ownership by black households is 48 percent, compared to 73 percent for white families and 67 percent for the nation as a whole.

Slated to speak along with Cuomo are the mayors of Oakland, San Francisco, East Palo Alto and Watsonville, along with representatives from a host of financial firms and several Congressmen and women. The conference is officially sold out, but reports of the proceedings will be available by calling (510) 763-0370.