Illinois Equal Justice Foundation

06/11/2026

The IEJF is thrilled to honor House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel for State Representative with its 2026 Champion of Justice Award.

Leader Gabel has long understood that justice isn't just found at a courthouse; it’s also in a budget line. Year after year, she has championed stable funding for civil legal aid in the state budget, ensuring that low-income Illinoisans have somewhere to turn when facing eviction, domestic violence, or loss of benefits.

Congratulations Leader Gabel, and thank you for your leadership!

06/08/2026

The IEJF is proud to honor Christine Haley, Chief Homelessness Officer for the State of Illinois, with its 2026 Good Government Award.

Through her leadership of the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Illinois Department of Human Services, Christine has been an invaluable partner in helping Illinois families stay housed through Eviction Help Illinois, IEJF's statewide program connecting residents facing eviction with free legal aid, mediation, and rental assistance.

Congratulations, Christine!

06/03/2026

Great Budget News: The FY27 state budget includes $13 million for Illinois Equal Justice Foundation civil legal aid programs. This funding will make a real difference for families facing eviction, survivors of domestic violence, veterans navigating benefits and people looking to clear old records.

We are grateful to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul & House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel for State Representative for championing this investment!

06/01/2026

This Pride Month, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirm our commitment to making sure everyone can access the legal help they need to live freely and with dignity.

The IEJF is proud to support civil legal aid programs across Illinois that help LGBTQ+ people protect their rights when it matters most, from family law issues and housing to workplace discrimination and identity documents.

05/28/2026

If you or someone you know is dealing with an eviction case, the Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) is open for applications through June 22, 2026. It covers:

💰 Up to $10,000 in past due rent
⚖️ Up to $700 in court costs
🏠 Up to 2 months of future rent to help you stay housed

This is for tenants and housing providers with pending eviction cases in Illinois courts.

The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program is accepting applications between May 27, 2026 and June 22, 2026. CBRAP provides emergency rental assistance to tenants and housing providers in Illinois with pending cases in eviction court. Applicants may qualify for up to $10,000 that can be applied to past due rent, up to $700 for court costs, and up to two months' future rent to prevent housing displacement. Learn more and apply here: https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/cbrap

05/27/2026

Another great opportunity for Chicago residents to clear their old records and get a fresh employment start!

Clear Your Record With NLEN & New Leaf Illinois!

We hope to see you for this incredible opportunity to learn how to expunge your record with North Lawndale Employment Network and New Leaf Illinois!

Join us Thursday, June 4th from 9:30AM to 12:30PM at NLEN's 1111 S. Homan Ave campus for a workshop on how to expunge and seal criminal records in Illinois, and to get dedicated support in expunging your records. Space is limited, RSVP today!

No documents are required to attend this workshop.
Contact [email protected] with any questions!

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor those who gave everything in service to our country.

For Illinois veterans, service members, and military families still navigating life at home, free legal help is available through IL-AFLAN (Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network). 855-IL-AFLAN or ilaflan.org.

05/22/2026

Don’t let past mistakes block your bright future. New Leaf Illinois can help you clear your old cannabis record - and any other eligible records in the process. They’re a legal aid network funded by the State of Illinois.

Call 872-NEW-LEAF or visit newleafillinois.org.

05/20/2026

5 years and 100,000 people helped. Congrats to Illinois Court Help on its anniversary & for making it easier for people to get clear answers to their court questions!

Thanks to the Supreme Court of Illinois A2J Commission for inviting us to your celebration breakfast. Here's Founding Director Lisa Colpoys with Judge Jorge Ortiz, Chair of the A2J Commission.

05/18/2026

The IEJF is proud to sponsor the Illinois Bar Foundation's Central Illinois Champions Reception, and we're especially excited to see one of our own recognized. Tim Bertschy is an IEJF Founding Trustee whose leadership helped shape our organization from its earliest days.

Congratulations to Tim and all of this year's honorees.