08/23/2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jawanza Malone
Phone: 312-805-4326
Email: jawanza.bmalone@kocoonline.org
MEDIA ALERT
Statement from the Lift the Ban Coalition on Gov. Pritzker’s Extension of the Eviction Moratorium
While we certainly appreciate the extension of the moratorium because given the severity of this moment, it is much needed. However, Illinois families need a greater sense of security than what a piece-meal approach gives them, like a short-term extension. In fact, since the “stay-at-home” order was declared, illegal lock-outs have doubled in Chicago. This is when a landlord subverts the eviction process, changes the locks to a residence, and prevents the lawful tenants from gaining entry.
That’s why we’re asking Gov. Pritzker to keep the moratorium in place until 3 months after Illinois enters Phase 5. We’re also asking the governor to retroactively cancel rent and mortgage payments for the duration of the “stay-at-home” order and the following 3 months. Otherwise, while necessary, 30-day extensions simply postpone near-certain displacement unless additional measures are enacted to address the accumulating debt.
We also need the governor to repeal the Rent Control Preemption Act, which bars municipalities from making any form of modification on rent collection on behalf of their residents.
We know when the government wants to get things done, elected officials find the means to execute. That’s exactly what’s needed here and now. Otherwise, hundreds of thousands of Illinois families are left vulnerable to be kicked out onto the street in the midst of a global pandemic.
The Lift the Ban Coalition is a statewide coalition of community organizations. The coalition includes: Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization | Chicago Democratic Socialists of America | Jane Addams Senior Caucus | Lugenia Burns Hope Center | Northside Action for Justice | ONE Northside | Pilsen Alliance | Chicago Teachers Union | Action Now | Autonomous Tenants Union | Chicago Housing Initiative | Coalition for Equitable Community Development | Common Cause Illinois | Horizontal Stateline | Lawyers Committee for Better Housing | Manufactured Home Owners Association of Illinois | Manufactured Housing Action | Metropolitan Tenants Organization | Northwest Side Housing Center | People for Community Recovery | SEIU Health Care IL/IN | SEIU Local 1 | Somos Logan Square | The Community Law Project | 33rd Ward IPO | 12th Ward IPO | 25th Ward IPO | 22nd Ward IPO | Unéte La Villita | United Neighbors 35th Ward | United Working Families | Westside Health Authority
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“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t”
– author unknown