Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing

Eviction

If your landlord wants to remove you from your home, s/he must follow the law.

Tenants in Foreclosure

Foreclosure doesn’t mean “Get out now!” If you are renting an apartment, house or condo that is in foreclosure, you have rights.

Discrimination

Fair Housing: It’s not an option, it’s the law!

Apartment / Building Conditions

Your landlord has the responsibility of maintaining the building in compliance with building, health and safety codes.

Recent Posts

Mark’s Musings - September Edition

September 30, 2019 posted in Annual Benefit, Fellows, Eviction Diversion Program, Right to Council, Chicago Evictions Data Portal

Hello!

I'm pleased to share that policy recommendations from LCBH's Chicago Evictions data portal launch event last May have led to several notable results:

LCBH will be an All Chicago Emergency Fund grantee, allowing the Eviction Diversion Program to expand and keep more renters housed.
The Chicago Reporter fully endorsed our recommendations.
Right to Counsel advocacy efforts are taking shape with our community partners.

You'll learn more about each of these when you attend the 39th Annual Bringing Justice Home Fall Networking and Awards event on Monday, November 4. I'm grateful to LCBH's Young Professionals Board for their hard work - this evening is one of my favorites. Get your ticket today and save $10.

An exciting addition this year is our inaugural Sharon L. King Distinguished Alumni Award presentation. So many dedicated individuals do and have done the front line work with individuals facing eviction in Chicago. Learn more about this award and nominate an LCBH "alum" who deserves recognition.

Expanding Eviction Brief Advice Desk to address representation inequities

September 29, 2019 posted in Equal Justice Works, Eviction Brief Advice Desk (EBAD), Eviction, Building / Apartment Conditions, Interns, Fellows

We are pleased to share that Carl Sessions, a recent graduate of ITT Chicago-Kent School of Law, has returned to LCBH as an Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellow, sponsored by the Rossotti Family Foundation.

During two student volunteer stints with LCBH, Carl saw firsthand the inequities of representations in eviction court.

A key finding from LCBH’s Chicago Evictions data portal has revealed that 79% of landlords appeared with legal counsel though only 11% of tenants were represented.

More importantly, Carl witnessed improved outcomes for tenants that LCBH was able to assist.

"The truth comes out when you have advocates with equal skills on both sides of a case," Carl shares.

Based on these observations as well as the desire to combine his legal interests with community organizing and mobilization, Carl developed a fellowship project that serves two functions:

Stabilizing housing for children through a school-based clinic

September 29, 2019 posted in Equal Justice Works, Eviction, Building / Apartment Conditions, Legal Clinic, Interns, Fellows

LBCH welcomes Katilin Cutshaw, an Indiana University Maurer School of Law graduate and alum of Teach for America (TFA), as an Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellow.

During her TFA training, Kaitlin explored the historical causes of student achievement gaps, with access to housing as an important contributing factor. Her efforts as a LCBH law student volunteer further connected those dots.

"My understanding of student displacement and how it disrupts a child’s education solidified here at LCBH," Kaitlin shares.

With the help of our staff, she created her EJW project proposal to develop a school-based clinic that offers housing-focused legal aid with the help of pro bono volunteers.

Kaitlin hopes to reach out to schools in the Austin and South Shore neighborhoods, two areas of Chicago with high rates of eviction as well as rising housing costs, although any school with high risk of student displacement would be a potential candidate.

Renter StoriesMore Stories

Margie

In 30-plus years in the Logan Square area, Margie had only lived in four different apartments.

Ms. Thomas

Imagine you’re sprawled out on your couch after getting home from work, taking a moment to unwind from the day, thinking about what you might make for dinner.

Rachel

We may not realize it, but many people are “one paycheck away from being homeless.” Unfortunately this is the reality for many of those we see at LCBH.

Shannon

During her annual checkup, Shannon’s doctor asked whether she was experiencing any stress.

John

John is a young disabled man who has had asthma all of his life. John is unable to work and he lives on very limited resources and income from Social Security.

Amanda and George

Amanda and George Fullerton have lived in Chicago all their lives.