Housing and Eviction Resources
As the eviction moratorium comes to a close this month, many people are facing the loss of their housing. Below you will find a list of low cost or free legal resources as well as a financial resource to help you navigate or possibly prevent eviction and housing loss.
While Access Living doesn’t handle eviction cases unless there is a disability-related fair housing (discrimination) component, we can assist you with referrals to the appropriate agency. Referral information is also listed below.
If you are a person with a disability who is facing eviction, but believe the eviction is due to the fact that you have a disability, you can call our own Civil Rights Team hotline at (312) 640-2106.
Please note: Access Living is not a housing agency or homeless shelter and does not provide placements into housing, shelters, or emergency housing. If you are in need of emergency housing, please call 311.
Download: List of Housing Resources in Cook County
CARPLS
Resource: Eviction Help Illinois (Legal Services)
Eviction Help Illinois is a state-funded network of 16 non-profit organizations providing free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance in response to the eviction crisis. Mediation is an opportunity for landlords and tenants to resolve issues with the help of a knowledgeable and neutral person.
- Phone: (855) 631-0811
- Website: https://www.carpls.org/eviction-help-illinois/
Center for Conflict Resolution
Resource: Mediation Services
Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) provides free, high quality conflict resolution services to people and organizations directly involved with active disputes. CCR mediates many different types of issues, including housing, parentage, small claims, commercial matters, and interpersonal conflict.
- Telephone: (312) 922- 6464
- Website: https://www.ccrchicago.org
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation
Resource: Pro Bono Legal Services
- Address: 33 North Dearborn Street, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60602
- Phone: (312) 332-1624
- Website: https://www.cvls.org/
COVID H.E.L.P.
Resource: Legal Services
COVID HELP is a free tool for people in Illinois who are facing housing and employment and other economic problems because of COVID-19. It’s help available online, all day and every day, and it’s managed by a team of lawyers from nonprofit legal aid organizations across the state. COVID HELP provides virtual assistance to solve real problems.
- Website: https://covidhelpillinois.org/
Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
Resource: Affordable Legal Services
GCLC’s attorneys provide representation to low-income people currently facing evictions as part of the Municipal Advice and Referrals Project. Prospective litigants must first discuss their case with an attorney from the Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS) by calling (312) 738.9200.
- Address: 17 N. State Street, Suite 1710, Chicago IL, 60602
- Intake Phone Number: (773) 731-1762
- Website: https://clclaw.org/
Illinois Department of Human Services Rental Assistance Hotline
The Rental Assistance Program is here to help keep families stably housed, and ensure that tenants and Housing Providers/Landlords are financially secure to prevent a tide of evictions due to COVID-19.
If you are a renter whose primary residence is in Illinois and are behind on rent due to economic hardship caused by COVID-19, you may be eligible for up to 15 months of rental payments to cover back-rent owed from June 2020 through August 2021.
The IDHS Rental Assistance Hotline is open Monday to Friday from 8AM-7PM. Operators can speak Spanish, Polish and 28 other languages to assist you.
- Phone Number: (866) 454-3571
- Website: IDHS website.
Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing
Resource: Legal Services
Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing will provide free legal and supportive services to improve housing stability for lower income renters while advocating for the rights of all renters until everyone in Chicago has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.
- Address: 33 North LaSalle, Suite 900, Chicago IL, 60602
- Phone: (312) 347-7600
- Intake Email: intake@lcbh.org
- Website: https://lcbh.org/
- LCBH Emergency Housing Resources
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF)
Resource: Legal Services
Legal Aid Chicago provides free civil legal representation to residents of Chicago and Suburban Cook County (statewide for migrant and human trafficking) who have limited income or special legal needs.
Metropolitan Tenants Organization Tenants’ Rights Hotline
Resource: Legal Services
MTO’s Tenants Rights Hotline serves as a first point of contact for tenants. More than 10,000 tenants call the Tenants Rights Hotline annually looking for answers to their problems. Counselors listen to the tenants’ problems and then provide them with possible solutions and/or referrals to other agencies that may be able to assist in court or provide financial aid.
- Telephone: (773) 292-4980
- Tenants ‘rights hotline: (773) 292-4988
- Website: http://www.tenants-rights.org/
You can also use MTO’s app, Squared Away Chicago, to access tenants’ rights resources 24/7.
Pet & Companion Animal Resources
As the end of the eviction moratorium looms, animal shelters around the state are preparing for an influx of surrendered pets from people who have lost their homes and cannot find a pet-friendly place to move into. Animal shelters such as the Anti-Cruelty Society seek to help keep pets with their humans.
“REMINDER: If your animal is an assistance animal that provides disability-related assistance to you or someone you live with, landlords, housing agencies, and housing shelters CANNOT deny you housing because of your service/support animal. If you feel you have been discriminated against for this reason, contact Access Living’s Civil Rights Team. (For housing and assistance animal issues in downstate Illinois, please contact Equip for Equality.)
Anti-Cruelty Society
Short-term Accommodations for Emergencies (SAFE) Program
Recognizing that there is a need for emergency sheltering of pets, The Anti-Cruelty Society has established the SAFE program. Providing 45 days of free care to approved applicants, this invaluable service keeps pets safe while their owners seek out new housing.
- Learn more about the SAFE Program and how to apply for it here
- SAFE Program Phone Number: (312) 287-6289
- SAFE Program Email Address: safe@anticruelty.org
Pet Deposit Subsidy Program
This program offers a one-time financial subsidy to Chicago pet owners who need assistance securing move-in fees or in obtaining pet-friendly housing. Qualification is determined on a case-by-case basis and the funds will be distributed as they become available. Note: If you have a service/support animal, it is illegal for a housing provider to charge a pet fee or pet deposit.
- Learn more about the Pet Deposit Subsidy Program here
- Subsidy Program Phone Number: (312) 898-0218
- Subsidy Program Email: education@anticruelty.org
- Subsidy Program application
Program Requirements:
- Property must be located in city of Chicago
- Completed program application
- Signed lease, including pet addendums and/or pet fee details