Recent Housing Policies that Support Our Mission
South Suburban Housing Center’s mission to promote a unitary housing market that eliminates discrimination and fosters stable, long-term diverse communities is supported by the following new housing policies for Cook County and Illinois.
Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO)
This new Cook County Ordinance became effective in June 2021, providing long-needed protections for Suburban Cook County Renters. The RTLO will prohibit lease terms that waive a tenant’s right to notices, require renters to “confess judgment” without a trial, or allow landlords to charge exorbitant interest rates on late payment of rent.
Just Housing Amendment (JHA)
Through the hard work of the Just Housing Coalition, this Cook County Amendment became effective on February 1, 2020 and provides more than one million residents with arrest and conviction records a fair chance at securing a home.
- Prohibits housing providers and housing authorities from considering arrest, juvenile records, and sealed and expunged records when evaluating someone’s application for rental housing
- Protects tenants and homeowners from being denied housing based on convictions greater than three years old
- Requires housing providers to conduct an individualized assessment for applicants with convictions that are less than three years old, considering factors such as the nature of the offense and how much time has passed since it happened
If you feel your rights under the Just Housing Amendment have been violated, contact us to report it.