Spotlight on Pro Bono: A Home for the Holidays
By Michael Gremer, UIC Law Student and Allison K. Bethel, Professor and Director, UIC Law Fair Housing Legal Clinic
Spotlight on Homelessness
We are experiencing a housing crisis in the United States and in Illinois. HUD reports that over 771,000 people are homeless in the US.1 In Illinois, it is estimated that 25,000 people were unhoused in 2024 with almost 19,000 in the city of Chicago.2 Worse still is that these numbers are climbing. The 2024 report from HUD shows that Illinois saw a 116% increase in its homeless population in one year!3 As winter and dangerous weather conditions approach, obtaining and retaining safe housing saves lives.
There are many reasons for the crisis including a shortage of affordable housing, declines in federal support for housing assistance, stagnant wages, and climate disasters. Vulnerable populations – seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, and families with children – are disproportionately impacted by these circumstances. The lack of safe and stable housing has a profound and permanent impact on our lives for generations.
Eviction plays a significant role in separating people from their homes. A contributing factor to homelessness in eviction situations is that most tenants are unrepresented. Even those who get their day in court face disadvantages. Landlords retain legal counsel nearly seven times as often as tenants do.4 This is often because tenants are unable to get the help they need. I. Michael Gremer, have been able to see this need firsthand with my work at the University of Illinois Chicago Fair Housing Clinic.
UIC Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic
The UIC Law School Fair Housing Clinic is one of several organizations in the state deep in the battle for housing justice. The Clinic focuses primarily on issues related to housing discrimination under federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. However, it has been increasingly representing tenants in eviction actions, covenant enforcement actions, public benefit claims, and other matters related to housing. The Clinic works to fill in the gaps of the pro bono representation, with many of our clients being working class Illinoisans who make too much money to qualify for other legal aid programs, but who are unable to afford hiring an attorney themselves. Our focus in the past has been the Chicago Metro area but the recent adoption of zoom and remote appearances by the Illinois courts has allowed us to represent clients across the state. Our work includes representation in court, but we can help many folks with advocacy and mediation.
The clinic also advances housing policy initiatives in collaboration with other justice advocates. Recent efforts in this regard include amending the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against immigrants and persons receiving government benefits, “gig” workers, and others.
Pro Bono Work in Housing Cases
Many of the legal and nonprofit organizations that help people with housing issues lost funding and staffing this year. We hope some of you reading this piece will consider donating your services to help address this crisis. The work is very satisfying, and matters can often be resolved short of trial. Many tenants will have their positions strengthened simply by having counsel walk alongside them rather than representing themselves pro se. Also, if litigation is necessary, many of the applicable laws have fee shifting provisions so you may be able to recover attorney’s fees. Housing justice advocates are generous with their time, talents and importantly, their forms! If you need support on the law, strategy or both, know that there is a talented network of advocates ready to help.
If you do not want to offer pro bono services through your own practice, please consider volunteering with other organizations working in the housing space. These organizations include the Law Center for Better Housing, HOPE Fair Housing Center, Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the South Suburban Housing Center, Housing Action Illinois and more. Prairie State Legal Services and Land of Lincoln are also deeply involved in this work.
During this time of year, our thoughts often turn to warmth and security of home. If you are safely and comfortably housed, pause for a moment of gratitude for that. Then, commit to advancing and protecting housing justice for all.