After decades of housing policy disproportionately favoring landlords in Illinois, a long-overdue shift is beginning to emerge – one that places greater emphasis on the rights and protections of tenants. For those who haven’t yet explored the first installment of this series, we encourage you to read our in-depth analysis of the historical development of tenant rights in Illinois. Understanding this context is essential to contextualizing much of the current momentum toward more equitable housing practices.

Housing is more than just a roof over our heads – it's a basic human right. This principle is enshrined in international law, most notably in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the UDHR affirms that everyone has the right to adequate housing, a place that supports dignity, health, and well-being.

Happy #DisabilityIndependenceDay! To celebrate, we are putting the spotlight on our community partner, Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC). JASC is a power building 501c3 that supports the leadership of Chicago-area seniors and tenant families to transform their housing and communities.

This #PrideMonth, we’re proud to spotlight our community partner, OCAD Chicago. Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) is an undocumented-led group that organizes against deportations, detention, criminalization, and incarceration of Black, brown, and immigrant communities in Chicago and beyond.

Asylum protections for Community Members (CMs) are vital now more than ever, especially in light of recent policy shifts and heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric from the current administration. If you missed the first two installments of our asylum series, check them out here. Learn about the historical context of asylum in the United States and gain insight into how immigration attorneys navigate these complex cases.

To close off May, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Community Members. May is AANHPI Heritage month and to celebrate, we are putting the spotlight on our Community Partner (CP) Vietnamese Association of Illinois (VAI).