Law Center for Better Housing

09/24/2026

The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program has officially re-opened. CBRAP provides emergency rental assistance to tenants and landlords across Illinois who have pending eviction cases. Eligible 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.

You can learn more and apply here: https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/cbrap

09/17/2026

✅ City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate

⏭️ City Council

Yesterday, the Protecting Renters Ordinance passed out of the CHRE! Thank you to everyone who has helped us spread awareness of the ordinance, organize meetings with City Council members and staff, and rally support at City Hall. A very special thank you to the 12 Alderpeople who voted to make this happen: Alderman Daniel La Spata, Alderman Lamont J. Robinson, Alderman David Moore, Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor, Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett, Alderwoman Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, Alderman Anthony Quezada, Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth , Alderwoman Maria Hadden, Alderwoman Angela Clay, and Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez.

Next up, City Council! Stay tuned.

09/17/2026

The Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO) passed out of the City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate yesterday! The fight isn't over yet though! As the ordinance goes before City Council, you must urge your Alder to vote YES to increased renter protections, transparency, and affordability. Chicago renters need PRO!

Chicago renters have been waiting for relief for 40 years and cannot wait any longer. Today marks a momentous step forward in our struggle: the Protecting Renters Ordinance passed the Housing Committee of City Council today.

But we cannot wait any longer, the time for the full City Council to pass PRO is now.

09/17/2026

"I think that it's in everybody's interest to work with each other to arrive at solutions to the problems that the city has..." Jon Raffensperger, LCBH Supervisory Attorney. The Protecting Renters Ordinance, which passed out of the City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate yesterday, works to address long overdue updates to Chicago's landlord-tenant law that will increase affordability and transparency for all. Hear more about the amended ordinance, which we believe uplifts both tenants and landlords on Fox 32 Chicago with Anita Blanton. Watch:

A housing committee passed Mayor Johnson's protecting renters ordinance today. And, the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates. All this and more on "The Chicago Report."

09/15/2026

Make your voice heard! Join us tomorrow, September 16th, at 11 a.m. to rally in support of the Protecting Renters Ordinance! See details and information on public comment below 👇

WEDNESDAY 9/16: Sign up to join MTO at City Hall on Wednesday, September 16, when the Protecting Renters Ordinance is likely to be voted on in the Committee on Housing and Real Estate, and when the opposition's FAIR ordinance may be considered in the Zoning Committee. We expect to have activities all day; join us for as much as you can!

🔗 Sign-up here: https://tr.ee/ikAL5oj3gS

09/15/2026

Advocacy Alert: Tell your alderperson you’re PRO protecting renters and communities with the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO)!

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate will vote on an amended version of the Protecting Renters Ordinance this TOMORROW, September 16th. Please take two minutes to email your alderperson, urging them to vote in favor of PRO!

The Protecting Renters Ordinance is a comprehensive bill that strengthens renters' rights and protections for the 622,000 rental households in Chicago (54% of all housing in the city!). Working with stakeholders throughout the city, an amended version of PRO strives to balance renters' and landlords' rights and responsibilities. The amended version removes legislation around just cause for eviction but keeps four key components, including: Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance modernization (RLTO), timely and regular enforcement of renters’ rights through the creation of the Bureau of Rental Services and a rental registry, and permanent funding for the eviction counsel program. You can learn more and contact your alder at the link below:

We need your help! Tell your alderperson you’re PRO protecting renters and communities with the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO)! 

09/09/2026

Don't forget! Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to hear from you!

Earlier this summer, the Protecting Renters Ordinance was introduced in City Council to address common rental problems and increase transparency for Chicago's renters. Tonight, Mayor Johnson is hosting a listening session where Chicago renters can share their experiences and ask questions about the proposed ordinance.

Event Details -
Date: 9/9/2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Mt. Carmel Church (2976 S. Wabash Ave.)
**Flyer provided by host organization

09/08/2026

We couldn't let the 40th Anniversary of the go by without also shouting out RLTO co-author, Henry (Hank) Rose, who will take home LCBH's 2026 Barbara Grau Outstanding Housing Advocate Award on October 15th at Buddy Guy's Legends. Hank's role in drafting the RLTO codified key protections for Chicago renters that our attorneys still use today to enforce our clients’ rights to safe rental housing.

At a time when the RLTO is being threatened by new legislation that would remove tenant protections that were hard fought for by Hank, we can think of no better recipient for this award. Learn more and purchase your tickets to the celebration:

It is with great honor that we announce Henry (Hank) Rose, professor emeritus at Loyola University Chicago (LUC) School of Law and co-author of the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), will take home the 2026 Barbara Grau Outstanding Housing Advocate Award at LCBH’s Fall Benefit o...

09/08/2026

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance ( )! The RLTO seeks to balance renters’ rights with landlords’ needs, while maintaining friendly and fair landlord-tenant relationships. The advocates who drafted the ordinance took note of troubling rental practices in the 1980s, including the prevalence of substandard living conditions, and sought to remedy them by outlining the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords related to security deposits, repairs, and evictions.

When the ordinance was brought before City Council by then 49th Ward Alderman, David Orr, it was quite controversial and took several years to pass. Many feared it would favor tenants and put an undue burden on landlords. However, thanks to the expertise of attorneys like Bill Wilen and Henry Rose, and the tireless advocacy of community groups and Mayor Harold Washington the bill finally passed, codifying one of the most comprehensive renting ordinances in the country into law.

Four decades later, some parts of the RLTO have fallen out of step with current rental practices. To remedy this, Mayor Brandon Johnson, introduced the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO) to City Council earlier this summer. Like the RLTO, PRO has received a lot of pushback, including the introduction of the unFAIR Ordinance which guts its core components AND rolls back key protections in the RLTO.

Today, in honor of this milestone, please help us advocate for expanded renter protections by asking your Alderperson to vote "yes!" to PRO and "no!" to FAIR. Learn more about the and contact your Alderperson at the link below:

Tell Chicago City Council: do not weaken renter protections.

09/02/2026

Do you know a Chicagoan willing to share about their experience renting in the city? 🏘️🙋 Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to hear from them!

Earlier this summer, the Protecting Renters Ordinance was introduced in City Council to address common rental problems and increase transparency for Chicago's renters. On September 9th, Mayor Brandon Johnson is hosting a listening session where Chicago renters can share their experiences and ask questions about the proposed ordinance.

Event Details -

Date: 9/9/2026

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Mt. Carmel Church (2976 S. Wabash Ave.)

**Flyer provided by host organization