100 W. Monroe
Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60603 View Map

Phone: 312-347-7600
Fax: 312-347-7604
TTY: 312-347-7603

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Description

LCBH was established in 1980 by a small group of lawyers concerned about deteriorating apartment buildings in their Rogers Park neighborhood. Today, LCBH’s attorneys take their community outreach work steps further by assisting tenants throughout Chicagoland who face these deteriorating conditions. For over 20 years, LCBH has been the premier public interest law firm specializing in housing law and policy in Chicago. LCBH provides free legal services to poor tenants in a way that impacts the affordable housing crisis to the greatest extent possible. In the Chicagoland area, there are approximately two lower income families for every affordable housing unit. Today, LCBH serves nearly 3,000 tenants from all over Chicago each year on issues relating to their housing. LCBH believes that safe, stable housing is the essential foundation for families to become part of the mainstream of society. Families must have a decent place to live in order to maintain steady employment, to properly rear and nurture their children, and to become well-functioning members of their neighborhoods and communities.

LCBH's major programs include:

Attorney-of-the-Day (AOD) Eviction Defense Project - The AOD provides high-volume, no cost legal services to low-income families who otherwise would have no legal representation and would be at the mercy of the eviction court system. The program helps to ensure that the Eviction Court Process follows proper procedure and does not override tenants’ rights to due process under the law. Clients are provided an array of services by volunteer attorneys, from settlement negotiations to motion practice to full litigation, depending on the nature of their case. With the help of an Attorney of the Day, tenants are often able to work out settlements that will allow them to remain in their apartments or have enough time to locate appropriate housing. Through the AOD project LCBH is a leading source of legal services for low-income tenants facing eviction in Chicago and has spearheaded the fight for eviction court reform. Approximately 40% of LCBH’s eviction cases reach settlement. When tenants are not represented by an attorney, they are evicted 95% of the time. Because of LCBH’s efforts, the landlords’ bar is more easily persuaded to settle their evictions cases in a manner favorable to the tenant rather than continuing litigation.

The Affordable Housing Preservation Project - AHPP provides legal assistance to tenants in multi-unit buildings who are experiencing dangerous, unsanitary conditions, or utility shut-offs. Tenants are guided through self-help remedies provided by the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance. Coordinating with tenant advocates and neighborhood groups. LCBH also provides legal resources when landlords refuse to comply with building codes and correct violations.

The Tenant Advocacy Project- TAP provides legal assistance to resolve landlord-tenant conflicts over code violations, lockouts and utility shut-offs.  Additionally, TAP seeks to provide legal assistance to tenants who have recieved an eviction notice and intervene prior to the filing of an eviction action and resolve the situation outside of the courtroom.

HomeSharing- This innovative program matches individuals, primarily seniors, who have excess space in their homes to share with responsible, compatible persons of all ages in need of affordable housing. 

Fair Housing Education- LCBH is a member of Chicago's Fair Housing Education Consortium (FHEC), which provides fair housing training to over 800 individuals each year.  LCBH also represents low-income tenants in a variety of fair housing cases. 

In addition to this legal advocacy, LCBH is engaged in broader housing policy and advocacy work on a local, state and national level to create systemic change that improves the lives of low-income tenants.

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