At risk-buildings such as vacant, hazardous buildings and multi-unit buildings with building code violations are identified and referred to the Chicago Department of Buildings for inspection. When buildings end up in Housing Court or in the Department of Administrative Hearings, the Housing Director acts as a Court Advocate and recruits other Advocates.  Other buildings may be targeted as sites of gang/drug activity. Referrals are made to the Chicago Troubled Building Initiative or to the Drug and Gang Enforcement Section of the City of Chicago Law Department. The status of the buildings in continually monitored by our office.

Technical assistance on housing issues is provided to tenants, building managers and owners. The community is provided education on various housing issues, such as affordable housing and property tax appeal, through various workshops. Referrals to various legal assistance agencies are made when necessary.

We also provide assistance to the homeless, individuals in danger of becoming homeless, and to seniors trying to stay in their own homes. Appropriate referrals are made through links with social service agencies, such as Thresholds, H.O.M.E., and Heart-To-Heart. An affordable housing directory in Edgewater is maintained and distributed to individuals looking for reasonably price rental units.

You can make a difference and be involved by participating in one or more of the following activities:

Join the ECC Housing Committee. We meet every other month to discuss current housing issues and plan for solutions.
Report problem buildings in your neighborhood to Derick Anderson, ECC Housing Director, at 773-381-1345. Problems include building code violations; unsafe conditions; illegal activity such as gangs, drug dealing, and prostitution; illegal conversions; rehab/construction without proper permits; and hazardous construction sites. You should also contact 311 and be sure you get the complaint number for follow-up.

If you are a landlord with affordably priced rental units, contact Derick Anderson, ECC Housing Director at 773-381-1345, to be included in the Affordable Housing Directory.

Let us know which type of workshop on housing issues would interest you. For example, a local workshop can be arranged if there is enough interest in a Landlord Training class. Other types of workshops could include First Time Homebuyer and Condominium Association training.

Become a Court Advocate: a strong turnout of concerned community members sends a message that problem buildings will not be tolerated in Edgewater.  Hearings are conducted during business hours at the Daley Center, the Department of Administrative Hearings (400 West Superior Street), or at the court located at Belmont and Western. You can attend as few or as many of the housing cases as you like and would have the opportunity to see how our courts operate while providing a community service. For additional information, contact Derick Anderson, ECC Housing Director at 773-381-1345.

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Housing Legal Aid
Bar Associations

Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.  The Chicago Bar Association operates a Lawyer Referral Service. It also operates a Call-a-Lawyer program via telephone at (312) 554-2001. Check the Call-a-Lawyer for additional details. The Chicago Bar Association also publishes a Finding The Right Lawyer which provides an overviews of the Lawyer Referral Service, lists situations that may require a lawyer's assistance and some of the areas of law for referrals.

Illinois State Bar Association operates a statewide online lawyer directory and telephone referral service called Illinois Lawyer Finder.

American Bar Association . On its website, the American Bar Association provides a Consumer’s Guide to Legal Help in Illinois. This resource also provides valuable information and tips on hiring, using and paying a lawyer as well as information on the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary which handles attorney licensing.

CARPLS (Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services).

As Cook County's legal assistance hotline, CARPLS strives to help lower income individuals address their legal needs in a timely and cost effective manner. If you need legal assistance, live in Cook County and cannot afford a lawyer, call the CARPLS Legal Assistance Hotline at 312-738-9200 Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and Wednesdays until 7:30 pm. Staff and volunteer lawyers provide advice and referral services over a telephone hotline. CARPLS does not provide assistance through e-mail or letters. For more information, visit CARPLS website.

Free Legal Assistance


The Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago provides free legal assistance for income eligible persons (eligibility depends on family income and size) who live in Chicago. Call the  closest neighborhood office listed below for an  appointment:

Main Office

111 W. Jackson
 Blvd
(312) 341-1070
 


Southside Office

10 W. 35th St.

(312)949-5390



Northwest Office

1212 N. Ashland Ave.

(Spanish Speaking)

(773)489-6800



Westside Office

3333 W. Arthington
 St
(773) 638-2343

In addition, agencies that offer free legal assistance for income eligible persons are:

Chicago Volunteer Legal  Service

100 N. LaSalle, Suite 900

(312) 332-1624


Legal  Aid Bureau 

14 E. Jackson
 Blvd
(312) 986-4200


Other legal clinics and agencies located in Chicago that will help income eligible persons for no fee or a moderate fee, are listed below. Call for an appointment.

Center for Disability and Elder Law

710 N. Lake Shore Drive

(312)908-4463


De Paul Legal Clinic

23 East Jackson Blvd, Suite 1050

(312) 341-8295

-Fee based on family income and size


IIT-Chicago 
Kent College of Law
Legal Service Center

565 W. Adams Street

(312) 906-5050

-Fee based on type of case and time spent, some retainer required, some cases taken on a contingent fee basis


Northwestern Legal Assistance Clinic

303 E. Chicago Ave.

(312) 908-8035


Cook County Bar  Association Lawyer Referral Service

175 W. Jackson Blvd, Room #1542

(312) 554-2073
 

Loyola Community Law Center

1 E. Pearson
 St
(312) 915-7830

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