We said goodbye to Staff Attorney Will Ruffing in January. Will was a tremendous team member and vital in our quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We sat down with him to hear more about his time at LCBH and his advice for new attorneys interested in legal aid. How long were you at LCBH,...
While much of Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing’s (LCBH) recent work has focused on preventing evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, reminders of a previous housing crisis that placed tenants in peril came roaring back this spring. In late April, an adverse court decision struck down the...
Our client, Gerald S., has worked hard throughout his career and never missed paying his rent. However, in October, Gerald's company began laying off employees, and unfortunately, Gerald was one of them. He had enough savings to pay for November and December's rent, but Gerald was already...
Did you miss LCBH’s “Bringing Justice Home” event? We showed our new video about the Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance (KCRO). Watch to learn how the KCRO protects tenants living in foreclosed properties. Meet tenants and advocates who explain why the KCRO is still...
We recently caught up with two LCBH alumni, Rachel Blake and Charles Nicholls. Rachel is Associate Director for Regional Housing Legal Services in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Her work is a mix of policy advocacy, organizational strategy and strategic planning. Charles is an attorney at Nicholls Law...
Laurel Chen was an intern in LCBH's supportive services department during the 2018-2019 academic year. LCBH is grateful to have Laurel's voice and advocacy. If you are a former pro bono attorney, supportive services intern, or legal fellow, we encourage you to Share Your Story. How did you get...
Our client, "Michael," worked hard throughout his career to save for retirement. He was enjoying his new home in a senior living facility and volunteering his services by working at his building's front desk. Unfortunately, Michael began experiencing problems with a fellow tenant. Michael was...
While many assume evictions are not an issue for Chicagoans right now due federal and state evictions moratoria, the reality is quite different. Last December, Legal Director Michelle Gilbert interviewed LCBH client Graciela Wade, who generously shared her experience of eviction during the...
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges for many Chicago renters, where widespread employment cutbacks and shelter-in-place mandates have made paying rent burdensome and nearly out of the question. Like many tenants, emergency rental assistance came as a relief to Kimberly A....
What was happening that led you to need LCBH's services?We were renting an apartment and started to notice that people were coming to see the building pretty frequently. My sisters took notice of these strangers and eventually asked them why they were routinely stopping by. To our surprise,...