HOW WE HELP
Open Communities is located in Evanston, Illinois, and serves the north and northwest suburbs of Cook County. We can provide services outside of our target service area, contact us to find out if we're the best suited to serve your needs.
I’M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY LANDLORD OR TENANT
We recognize that the power between tenants and landlords is imbalanced. Open Communities’ staff provides information to tenants and landlords on their rights, responsibilities, and local resources – however, we do not provide legal representation or formal mediation. We can provide referrals to legal aid partners and other landlord/tenant groups and can help determine whether any fair housing violations may have taken place. Both tenants and landlords must keep in mind that rules differ based on your municipality within Cook County.
THE LAW IN YOUR AREA
Learn about the law in your area below:
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Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO) Summary (for anyone in Suburban Cook County outside of the municipalities listed below)
TENANT LANDLORD RESOURCES
Legal Aid/Eviction Defense
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Cook County Hotline for Housing and Debt- Cook County Legal Aid, Call the CCLAHD hotline at 855-956-5763 to learn how you can get help resolving your housing and debt problems.
FAIR HOUSING RESOURCES
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Internal documents
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Link to fact sheets, discrimination video content, etc.
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Other Local Fair Housing Agencies:
I AM A HOMEOWNER AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT LOSING MY HOME
The threat of losing your home is frightening and stressful – home means community, safety, resources. Our housing counselors can help you create an action plan depending on whether you want to remain in your home or find other housing. If you wish to remain in your home and you are concerned about paying your mortgage, property taxes, or Home Owner Association (HOA) fees, our counselors can work with you and your loan servicer, Home Owners Association, or local government resources to explore all options available for you to keep your home. We will work with you to create a household budget and identify action steps to move you towards a sustainable housing situation
I RENT AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT LOSING MY HOME
The threat of losing your home is frightening and stressful – home means community, safety, resources. Our staff can help community members understand the eviction or lease non-renewal process. We can also provide referrals to local resources. We can help the tenant understand their situation – for instance, whether there may be signs of discrimination or a violation of local housing laws – and connect them to the right resources in our network. When unjust evictions have been filed, we will always recommend that the participant reach out for legal help immediately. Our housing counselors can help you create a financial action plan and discuss the next steps toward housing stability. We do not provide financial rental assistance or housing location services.
EVICTION PREVENTION RESOURCES
HOME OWNERSHIP RESOURCES
I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A HOMEOWNER
Purchasing a home can be very exciting but it also comes with new responsibilities and a complicated and sometimes confusing process. Owning a home takes a lot of time, money, and energy, so not only is it important to be educated about the process, but also about the responsibilities of homeownership. A buyer needs to carefully weigh the pros and cons of ownership and take a realistic look at the process. Our homebuyer education classes help the consumer have a realistic view of owning a home. We discuss the true cost of homeownership, steps in the home buying process, preparing to apply for a loan, and down payment assistance programs. In addition to our group workshops, our Housing Counselors can meet you one-on-one to walk you through each step of the process, from exploring if homeownership is right for you, through budgeting, and the final closure process. Housing Counselors can also work with homeowners after they purchase to make sure they can maintain their housing and stability. Clients that complete our education and one-on-one counseling will receive a certificate that is used by many lenders to grant access to down payment assistance programs and specific mortgage products. Please click here to see our available courses in English and Spanish.
HOME OWNERSHIP RESOURCES
I HAVE A HOUSING ISSUE RELATED TO MY DISABILITY
It is well-known that finding housing suitable for a person with a disability is beyond challenging, and many housing providers are unaware of disability protections. Once housed, people with disabilities too often do not have the same access and enjoyment of their home as people without disabilities. In turn, our staff often help advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to access reasonable accommodations or modifications wherever they are in the process.
A "reasonable accommodation" is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. A “reasonable modification” is a physical alteration to the structure of a dwelling to achieve the same equal access to the person with a disability. Open Communities staff can educate both tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities, help to draft requests, advocate for housing providers, and bring enforcement measures when housing providers are violating the law.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS + MODIFICATION RESOURCES
I'M AN OLDER ADULT (55+) AND WANT HOUSING SERVICES
Through our fair housing work, we advocate on behalf of older adults, provide investigation and enforcement on relevant fair housing protections (such as protections for age and disability in the Illinois Human Rights Act), and educate older adults on some on their rights under the law. We can also work with you to understand your mortgage options, including Reverse Mortgages, that may assist with your long-term goal of aging in place. Did your Reverse Mortgage lender tell you that you need a Reverse Mortgage Certificate? Contact our team.
Open Communities is grateful for funding provided in whole or in part by the AARP Foundation, AgeOptions, and RRF Foundation for Aging in support of our Here to Stay Program for older adults.
MY FAMILY OR I HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Dealing with all the uncertainty after and involvement with the justice system is not easy to navigate. Our lives are affected, and we need a helping hand to support us throughout the process. Therefore, through the Illinois Access to Justice program at Open Communities, we can provide accompaniment and support throughout your process. We can share information about your rights, share resources, and be your helping hand.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
Experiencing discrimination can cause stress and anxiety which negatively impact physical and emotional health. Discrimination can also cause symptoms of trauma. Open Communities is here to support you, validate your experiences, and partner with you to take action. We are a Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-designated private enforcer of fair housing laws, which means community members can confidently turn to us for guidance. Open Communities can advocate directly to housing providers or can investigate them through fair housing testing, interviews, and other means. "Testers" are people who pose as potential renters or homebuyers in various real estate situations to determine whether unlawful discriminatory housing practices are taking place. This evidence can lead to filing complaints, lawsuits, or other action. Contact Open Communities and we can help you determine how to exercise your rights.
