Happy Women’s History Month! This month, I’ve been reflecting on the tremendous impact of women on LCBH’s mission.
For 45 years, women have been at the heart of LCBH’s work, providing legal and supportive services, leading in the role of Executive Director and on our Board, and advocating for Chicagoans’ right to safe and stable housing. Today, nearly 70% of our staff are women, and we could not do the work we do without their dedication and passion for housing justice. Before them, the guidance of LCBH’s women founders and board members laid the foundation for our work, helping us expand from a neighborhood-based organization to serving renters throughout Chicago and suburban Cook County. On behalf of LCBH, thank you to all the women who have made our work possible. We are so grateful for your continued support and impact!
One such woman is former LCBH Board President, Sharon L. King, who has served as a powerful ally of our LCBH’s work for nearly 30 years, particularly supporting the role of women in the legal profession and leadership. Sharon first joined LCBH in 1997 through the Attorney of the Day Program, and later served on the Board as treasurer, president, and vice president. Each year, LCBH recognizes people who started their careers at LCBH and continue to advocate for housing justice through their work with the Sharon L. King Distinguished Alumni Award. You can learn more about Sharon’s ongoing impact on LCBH’s work in this video.
I cannot shoutout the role these women have played in LCBH’s success without also highlighting the critical women-led partnerships that support us in reaching those most impacted by eviction and housing instability. The Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) is a steadfast supporter of our work with women, who experience eviction at disproportionate rates. With CFW’s support, LCBH is reaching more women than ever before. Check out our recent interview with Victoria Ogunsanya, LCBH Supervising Attorney whose work has been supported by CFW, here.
You can also learn more about LCBH’s work supporting women facing eviction by reading Mary’s story. Mary, a single mother with a chronic illness, was at risk of homelessness when she connected with LCBH. Despite disclosing her illness to her landlord and agreeing to a verbal payment plan for her back rent, Mary’s landlord filed an eviction against her late last year. At her first court date, Mary was pre-approved for rental assistance and had returned to work, but her landlord refused to participate. Working quickly, Lillie, Mary’s LCBH Attorney, was able to get Mary’s rental assistance payment to her landlord two days before trial, ensuring she could clear her back rent and get her case dismissed.
You can read more of Mary’s story here and hear from her directly at our 2025 Chicago Eviction Town Hall on April 30th, showcasing the importance of eviction prevention tools, like emergency rental assistance and legal aid, in preventing eviction. Register to attend virtually and meet our other panelists here.