Last year saw a sharp increase in homelessness nationally and locally, with Chicago’s unhoused population tripling from 2023 to 2024. For many LCBH clients, access to both free eviction defense and court-based rental assistance were the difference between staying housed and finding themselves among this startling statistic.
That’s why we applauded the Governor and General Assembly for funding rental assistance and urge them to approve $50 million in funding for the Illinois Court Based Rental Assistance Program and the Illinois State Homeless Prevention Fund, which provides pre-court rental assistance, in the proposed FY2026 Budget.
Through our experiences in court, we know the combination of rental assistance and eviction defense preserves tenancies and keeps families stably housed. Additionally, in most cases, when tenants stayed in their homes or had sufficient time to move, landlords who were willing to participate in rental assistance kept more money in their pockets too.
Echoing the sentiment of other LCBH clients, Mary, who had her eviction case dismissed last December, said eviction defense counsel and rental assistance meant the difference between remaining in her home and having to move her family to a shelter.
“Had I not had help, I would’ve probably ended up in a shelter or on the street. I had no other options,” Mary said.
Like us, she’s determined to advocate for increased awareness of and support for the services she believes preserved her housing. You can read Mary’s entire story here.
You can help us advocate for continued funding for rental assistance by calling or emailing your representatives using this script:
“Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I am a resident in your district. I am calling to express my support for the Governor’s proposed $50 million in funding for Court-Based Emergency Rental Assistance and Illinois State Homeless Prevention Funds. Last year, homelessness increased nearly three-fold in Chicago. These programs have proven to preserve tenancies and reduce financial stress on landlords. By supporting these measures, you are helping to keep more families housed. Thank you.”
You can find contact information for you representatives here.