Chicago Mayor Calls for Permanent Rental Assistance

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging the city to make its Right to Counsel rental assistance and eviction protection program permanent as the eviction rate in the city grows.

According to an article in The Real Deal, the pilot program was originally funded in part by federal stimulus funding distributed during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Johnson last month proposed an ordinance that, if passed, would extend the program’s benefits to all eligible tenants, regardless of whether their housing crisis is directly linked to the pandemic, the Chicago Tribune reported.”

Johnson argues that the program is necessary as evictions have returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 5,600 evictions served in Cook County so far this year. “Many evictions have occurred in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods, reflecting national trends. The program has already significantly improved tenants’ ability to secure stable housing, its proponents said.”

The article notes that “While the initiative aims to support tenants, it has also garnered some support from attorneys who represent landlords, who believe that fair representation benefits all parties involved in eviction cases.”