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Chicago Needs
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What Would the Just Cause Ordinance Do?
When a tenant is evicted due to no fault of their own, they must face unexpected costs related to a new housing search in an already expensive housing market, creating financial instability and housing insecurity. Some of these costs include application fees, security deposits, higher rents, additional transportation costs, and other associated moving fees.
A Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance would allow landlords and property owners to evict tenants, but only for specific reasons, such as nonpayment of rent, criminal activity, or other documented violations of a tenant's lease agreement. It would require landlords to provide relocation assistance to the tenant in the event that the landlord wishes to:
- occupy the unit or have a close family member do so,
- substantially repair or rehab the unit,
- convert the unit into a condo, or
- demolish or remove the unit from the market.
- occupy the unit or have a close family member do so,
- substantially repair or rehab the unit,
- convert the unit into a condo, or
- demolish or remove the unit from the market.
In Chicago, there are an average of 23,466 eviction filings each year. Available data tells us that almost 20% are not related to rent collection. The number of people that lose their homes each year from lease non renewals is unknown, but estimated to be in the thousands.
Just Cause for Eviction Ordinances are a well-tried and tested solution to protecting tenants' right to housing. Approximately 11 states and 20 cities have some version of this ordinance, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
According to Portland Tenants United, many small landlords in Portland, Seattle have spoken in favor of relocation assistance. They say that landlords agree that stability for renters is a key ingredient to making good tenants. If tenants feel secure in their homes, they are more likely to take better care of their units.
Take Action!
Reach out to your alderperson to urge them to support the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance, which was introduced to City Council on May 21, 2025. We need a broad community to show its support for the ordinance! Click below to send a pre-written email to your alderperson.
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About the CoalitionMembers of the The Chicago Housing Justice Coalition represent a wide range of community areas, constituencies, organizing and policy practices, directly impacted people, and more.
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“That sense of expectation that I can be where I am and have a sense of place about my neighborhood – its schools, churches, businesses–would be the foremost element of housing as a human right . And that's exactly what Just Cause begins to do.” |
