Law Center for Better Housing

06/05/2026

The kickoff to Sundays on the Blvd: Slide into Summer is this weekend at Douglas Park between Central Park and Lawndale Ave.! Stop by on Sunday to meet LCBH staff members and learn more about our renter resources! Plus, check out the other amazing community resources and family fun from 1-4 p.m.

05/29/2026

📣The Court-Based Rental Assistance Program is accepting new applications for a limited time through Monday, June 22, 2026! All applications must be submitted before the deadline to be considered for approval. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible at this link: https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/cbrap

Please note: LCBH does not administer the rental assistance program. We cannot assist you with your application. If you have any questions about the program, you must call IHDA at (866) 454-3571.

05/28/2026

We're thrilled to announce LCBH was awarded $100,000 in unrestricted funding from Impact Grants Chicago, a women-powered collective giving organization, to sustain our eviction defense and prevention services so more Chicago renters remain stably housed. We were so proud to see LCBH Board Member, Andrew Harrison, and former LCBH client and staff member, April Ikengah, represent our organization during the 2026 Impact Grants Awards Presentation, and are grateful to the 400+ Impact Grants Chicago members who helped make this award a reality. A special congratulations to the other 2026 Impact Grants Award Winners, Centro Romero, Children's Research Triangle, Imagine Englewood If..., Center for Disability and Elder Law, Chicago Debates, and Revive Center for Housing and Healing!

Learn more here: https://lcbh.org/lcbh-receives-100000-impact-grant-to-sustain-homelessness-prevention-services-for-chicagos-renters/
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05/22/2026

Earlier this month, LCBH Staff Attorneys Justin Cook, Lydia Elmer, and Spencer Haydary attended the Home Illinois 2026 Summit, hosted by the Illinois Department of Human Services. At the Summit, they helped showcase how Eviction Defense Counsel, combined with access to Illinois Housing Development Authority's Court-Based Rental Assistance Program, prevents homelessness.

05/12/2026

We’re excited share that LCBH is receiving a grant through United Way of Metro Chicago’s Response Fund!

Across the Chicago region, the housing crisis is putting immense pressure on individuals and families. In response, United Way of Metro Chicago is investing $250,000 in 20 organizations, including LCBH, to immediately address housing and homelessness prevention. As a recipient of the Response Fund, LCBH will focus on serving suburban renters at risk of losing their housing due to eviction.

Read the press release and see the full list of recipients at https://liveunitedchicago.org/about/press-release/response-fund-awards-250000-to-housing-programs/

Photos courtesy of Housing Forward and Claretian Associates, Inc.

04/30/2026

At LCBH, supporting renters doesn’t just start and end with an eviction filing. Our team works with renters before and after an eviction is filed to stabilize their housing and prevent homelessness.

First, our attorneys and supportive services case managers meet with clients to assess their housing situation and provide them with options. Then, we empower renters to take control of their future housing by building a plan tailored to their needs. That might include:

⭐ Drafting a 14-day repair letter demanding that their landlord make timely repairs to substandard apartment conditions

⭐ Helping a renter apply for emergency rental assistance to pay off their back rent or connect with other community resources

⭐ Negotiating a settlement with their landlord that gives the renter time to move out of their apartment with dignity

⭐ Providing free representation for a renter facing eviction to help level the playing field in eviction court

Clients leave with the confidence to assert their rights and the support they need to keep their housing and avoid homelessness. In 2025, LCBH helped more than 17,000 renters, and with the support from Wells Fargo and the Keeping People Housed Initiative, we’re poised to serve even more this year. Thank you, Wells Fargo, for your continued support and commitment to . Visit www.lcbh.org to learn more about our housing stabilization services.

04/21/2026

The Chicago Healthy Homes Coalition recently celebrated the passage of the Proactive Rental Inspection Working Group Ordinance! Check out this Thursday's virtual panel, featuring LCBH Supervising Attorney, Sam Barth, to learn more about the work that led up to this point and what remains for Healthy Homes advocates! Register: bit.ly/aprilgen

Please join CAFHA for a timely discussion on the Chicago Healthy Homes Ordinance! Just 3 weeks ago, the Chicago Healthy Homes Coalition celebrated the passage of the Proactive Rental Inspection Working Group Ordinance. What will this mean for Chicago's tenants, landlords and building inspectors? Register to learn more about the Coalition's longstanding efforts and what lies ahead.

Meeting Moderator: Adam Ballard, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance
Panelists:
Martin Cozzola, Impactforequity
Suni Kartha, Impactforequity
Gordon Dymowski, Metropolitan Tenants Organization
Sam Barth, Law Center for Better Housing

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6UZp2R64QcObistJX_po4A #/registration

04/21/2026

LCBH's Legal and Policy Director, Michelle Gilbert, was recently featured on WBEZ regarding the rise in rental scams targeting migrants in Chicago. Far too often, fraudulent "leasing agents" prey on renters who would otherwise be unhoused with promises of safe and affordable housing. Little do the renters know, their new "lease" can result in an eviction, or, worse, an arrest for squatting, at the hands of the real property owner, leaving them worse off than they were before. Read more:

Their precarious legal status because of changing federal immigration policies and a new Illinois housing law has led to increasing challenges for migrants looking for safe and suitable places to live.

04/20/2026

The Winnetka Congregational Church Grand Spring Rummage Sale is just a few weeks away on May 8th and 9th! Shop the sale, save money on great items, and know your purchase is directly funding great causes in the Chicago area, including LCBH! It's a win-win!

04/17/2026

Don't forget to stop by 3rd, 4th, and 5th Ward's Job and Resource Fair tomorrow, April 18th! Arrive between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to connect with local vendors and organizations, including LCBH, the Chicago Public Library, Midway Moving and Storage (secure document shredding), Illinois Secretary of State Mobile DMV Services (license plate renewals & Real and State ID services), and more! Thank you, Alderperson Pat Dowell, Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson, and Alderperson Desmond Yancy for putting together this awesome resource. We hope to see you there!