Blog: LCBH News

LCBH staff were on hand at Fiesta del Sol to provide information and resources to renters.

The 4-day festival which ran July 25-28 featured a Housing Resources Pavilion coordinated by Erie Neighborhood House.

Everyone had a great time and we were able to talk to a lot of folks about the work we do.

This summer, LCBH is hosting its first student from the University of Chicago’s Summer Links program. This is another addition to the growing list of schools and programs that are sending students to LCBH to learn about Chicago’s housing issues and get real-world experience working with clients who are at high risk of homelessness without legal and supportive service intervention. Summer Links is an intensive 10-week, paid internship program for 30 returning undergraduate and graduate students committed to public service, community building and social change. Started in 1997 and sponsored by the Dean of the College, Summer Links has placed over 450 students in substantive internships with more than 200 nonprofit and public sector organizations throughout the Chicago area.

Summer Links challenges students to go beyond the classroom to expand their definition of “readings” to include relationships, interactions, and observations; and to confront one another’s perspectives and experiences. Summer Links’ interns extend the classroom to the community, put theory into practice, and then become their peers’ link to the wider community of Chicago once they return to classes in the fall.

This month, we decided to sit down with staff attorney Lacy Burpee, an Equal Justice Works Foreclosure Fellow to find out a little more about the work she does at the Tenants in Foreclosure Help Desk at the Daley Center.

Lacy, you are an attorney as well as an Equal Justice Works Foreclosure Fellow, can you tell us where you went to law school and more about that program?
I attended DePaul University College of Law. After graduating, I was selected as one of four Equal Justice Works (EJW) Foreclosure Fellows. This fellowship is a three year position, which is funded by the Attorney General through the mortgage foreclosure settlement. The purpose of these fellowships is to provide services to people impacted by the foreclosure crisis. In my work, I primarily assist tenants who are living in apartment buildings that are going through foreclosure. I spend most of my time at the Tenants in Foreclosure Help Desk, which is located on the 14th floor of the Daley Center, where many eviction courtrooms are located.

On March 8th the Young Professional Board presented the 8th annual Hearts for Housing fundraiser. This event is a Hearts card tournament with a very large and diverse raffle that keeps growing every year, making Hearts the most popular event in LCBH history!

Kirkland & Ellis has generously hosted this event for the last four years and they really outdo themselves in support of safe and decent housing in Chicago. Their beautiful conference space was bursting with a sold- out crowd! Todd Maynes, LCBH Board Vice-President and Kirkland & Ellis partner personally sold $14,000 in raffle tickets! It was a charmed and electric evening, guests caught up with old friends, made new ones, and played cards for a great cause!

Thanks to the hard work and contributions of the Young Professionals Board, LCBH Board of Directors, sponsors, raffle donors, staff and you LCBH was able to raise over $43,000 to support program services that assist those most vulnerable in our Chicago community who are facing debilitating housing issues. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when people come together to improve our community! Thank you!

Hearts for Housing Co-Chairs

• Jessica Panza
• Vito Giovingo
• Jeremy Snodgrass

and the rest of our Young Professionals Board