EQUITABLE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING
Creating resilient communities by advocating for affordable housing and equitable investment.
We promote economic and housing opportunities that support communities of color and create neighborhoods that are livable and sustainable.
The Equitable Community Development and Housing program of Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights:
Partners with community-based organizations and coalitions to advance the priorities identified by impacted communities, such as fair and affordable housing, and equitable land use and community development.
Leverages our expertise in litigation, legislative policy, and administrative advocacy in the following areas:
Fair Housing Enforcement
Community-led Planning and Development
Healthy Communities
We address the systems and structures that perpetuate segregation and deny opportunity to communities of color.
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING - Case Highlights
Challenging Discriminatory “Crime-Free” Housing Ordinances
2024
Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Winston & Strawn LLP successfully represented Diamond Jones, a mother of three and former Richton Park resident, who was wrongfully evicted from her home of four years under Richton Park’s “Crime-Free” Housing Ordinance after seeking police assistance when her family faced threats and gun violence. Ms. Jones’ calls to the police triggered a violation of the local ordinance and led to her eviction without due process. After a year-long effort, the case settled, resulting in a favorable settlement for Ms. Jones. In response to the filing, the Village of Richton Park amended its ordinance. “Crime-Free” Housing Ordinances are increasingly recognized as ineffective and vulnerable to discriminatory enforcement. These ordinances do not create safe communities but rather result in unfair penalties and evictions of tenants based on contact with the criminal legal system or alleged nuisance activity, leading to instability and loss of housing.
If you or someone you know has been or is facing eviction due to a crime-free housing ordinance, please call CARPLS at 312-738-9200.
Fair Housing Enforcement: Protecting Voucher Holders from Source of Income Discrimination in Illinois
2024
In 2022, Chicago Lawyers' Committee was part of the Illinois Coalition for Fair Housing that helped amend the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA) to make it a civil rights violation for an owner or agent to refuse to rent to an individual based on that person’s “source of income,” including housing vouchers and other forms of public assistance.
In December 2024, HOPE Fair Housing Center (HOPE) and four Housing Choice Voucher (Voucher) holders filed a class-action lawsuit against property management company Mac Properties for systemic source of income discrimination against renters who use Vouchers. Plaintiffs RySheena Moore, Cadeidga Coleman, Janishia Fleming, and Sheliah Thomas Ayanwale are all Black Voucher holders who were searching for rental housing in the Hyde Park neighborhood and contacted Mac Properties about newer or renovated listings with amenities. Mac Properties refused to rent to all four women at these buildings, even though they had apartments available and advertised within their budget. Instead, Mac Properties steered them toward properties they had not expressed interest in which had not been recently updated or had fewer amenities. The women and HOPE Fair Housing Center are being represented in this lawsuit by Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd.
If you or someone you know with a Voucher has concerns about their experience attempting to rent from Mac Properties or the lawsuit, please contact the legal team at 312-604-2700 or MacVoucher@hsplegal.com.
Advocating for Affordable Housing and Equitable Land Use
2023
The Coalition to Protect CHA Land, Chicago Housing Initiative, and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center filed a federal lawsuit challenging HUD’s approval of the Chicago Housing Authority’s lease of 23 acres of public housing land to a billionaire-owned soccer team. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights represented these organizations along with National Housing Law Project, Legal Action Chicago, and pro bono attorneys from the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. The lawsuit aimed to hold HUD and CHA accountable for failing to rebuild long-promised housing in the face of an ongoing affordable housing crisis. Despite the dismissal, which was based on a technical issue of legal standing, the fight for affordable housing continues.
