Tell Illinois Legislators to Pass COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act

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Urge Illinois Legislators:
Pass COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act

Update: House Bill 2877 passed the House on March 18! Now we just need to get the bill through the Senate and signed by Governor Pritzker. Contact your State Senator right now!

Our legislators have the chance to pass protections for Illinoisans on the brink of losing their homes.

The pandemic has only exacerbated our longstanding housing crisis, as COVID-19 has caused unprecedented economic instability for renters across Illinois. No one should fear losing their home during these uncertain times, when housing is healthcare, just because they can't afford their rent or mortgage.

Additionally, renters should not face permanent housing barriers due to the economic fallout of COVID-19. An eviction record, including even the filing of a case, can make it much more difficult to find a home in the future.

Urge legislators to support legislation that will:

Create directions and requirements to ensure that people with the lowest incomes and most severe housing needs can access the $566.2 million in federal emergency rental assistance funds that will be distributed in Illinois as soon as April 2021.
Seal eviction cases filed during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery period (defined as March 2020 - March 2022).
Expand opportunities to seal prior eviction records.
Prohibit tenant screening companies from sharing a sealed eviction court record
Temporarily halt certain foreclosure proceedings and filings.

This legislation, HB 2877, is being championed in the House by State Representatives Delia Ramirez and Lindsey LaPointe, as well as dozens of additional sponsors, and in the Senate by Senators Omar Aquino, Robert Peters and Jacqueline Collins.

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State Senators & Representatives from Illinois

Subject: Vote YES on the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act

Message:

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to vote yes on the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act (HB 2877). The pandemic has only exacerbated our longstanding housing crisis, as COVID-19 has caused unprecedented economic instability for renters across Illinois. No one should fear losing their home during these uncertain times, when housing is healthcare, just because they can't afford the rent. I urge you to stand with fellow legislators, such as State Representatives Delia Ramirez and Lindsey LaPointe and State Senators Omar Aquino, Robert Peters, and Jacqueline Collins, to support the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act. This legislation will: * Codify provisions of the federally-funded emergency rental assistance program that are intended to ensure that people with the lowest incomes and most severe housing needs are able to access the $566.2 million in emergency rent assistance to be distributed by the State of Illinois as soon as April 2021. Between state and local governments, the total rent assistance available in Illinois will be $834.7 million. * Require the sealing of all eviction records between March 2020 - March 2022 upon filing, with limited unsealing allowed if a judgment is entered and the case is unrelated to nonpayment of rent. Renters should not face permanent housing barriers due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. An eviction record, including even the mere filing of a case, hampers a tenant’s ability to secure housing. * Require the sealing of older eviction records if the court finds that doing so is in the interest of justice, the case is dismissed, the tenant did not breach the lease, or the parties agree to seal the record. (This provision sunsets on July 31, 2022.) * Prohibit tenant screening companies from disseminating a sealed eviction court record and create penalties for doing so. (This provision sunsets on July 31, 2022.) * Create a temporary COVID-19 emergency homeowner and small landlord foreclosure moratorium by prohibiting judicial sales and orders of possession through July 31, 2021. As your constituent, I hope you will represent me by standing up for renters in our communities. Thank you for your time, attention, and support of Illinois communities grappling with housing instability in the midst of an ongoing public health crisis.

Remaining:

Legislators sponsoring this measure.

Subject: Thank you for supporting the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act

Message:

Thank you for your support of renters on the brink of losing their homes during this ongoing public health crisis. The pandemic has only exacerbated our longstanding housing crisis, as COVID-19 has caused unprecedented economic instability for renters across Illinois. No one should fear losing their home during these uncertain times, when housing is healthcare, just because they can't afford the rent. Thank you for your leadership in championing the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act (HB 2877/ SB 668) that will: * Codify provisions of the federally-funded emergency rental assistance program that are intended to ensure that people with the lowest incomes and most severe housing needs are able to access the $566.2 million in emergency rent assistance to be distributed by the State of Illinois as soon as April 2021. * Require the sealing of all eviction records between March 2020 - March 2022 upon filing, with limited unsealing allowed if a judgment is entered and the case is unrelated to nonpayment of rent. * Require the sealing of older eviction records if the court finds that doing so is in the interest of justice, the case is dismissed, the tenant did not breach the lease, or the parties agree to seal the record. * Prohibit tenant screening companies from disseminating a sealed eviction court record and create penalties for doing so. * Create a temporary COVID-19 emergency homeowner and small landlord foreclosure moratorium by prohibiting judicial sales and orders of possession through July 31, 2021. As your constituent, I am grateful to have a legislator standing up for renters in our communities.

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Urge Illinois Legislators: Pass COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act

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Urge Illinois Legislators:
Pass COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act