Category: MTO News
News and updates from MTO.
Tenants Union in Uptown Wins $40,000 from Corporate Landlord!
After years of affordable rents under a small independent landlord, tenants at the corner of W. Montrose and N. Dayton received a horrifying holiday surprise. Right after Christmas, tenants received a notice from Rockwell Property (representing the building’s new ownership group, Montrose Investment Partners II LLC) that they had approximately 120 days to vacate their homes so their new landlord could renovate the building.
Many tenants had lived in the building for decades. Rockwell Property offered tenants a paltry $500 on the way out and a $500 credit if they moved back into the building when the renovations were done, and rents would inevitably be unaffordable for most tenants.
Fearful that they would not be able to afford to move and angry that they could be displaced so suddenly, the tenants sprang into action and formed the Mon-Day Tenants Association (MDTA) with one simple demand: if you want us to move, pay us to do so!
The demand was far from unreasonable. If the proposed Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance were law in Chicago, the landlord would have to give tenants, displaced through no fault of their own, substantial relocation assistance.
For the first month of the campaign, building ownership refused to negotiate with the MDTA. But with the help of organizers from MTO and ONE Northside, the MDTA gathered community support, escalated public pressure, and forced the owners to the table.
After weeks of intense negotiations, the MDTA approved an agreement in which the landlord waived last month’s rent and gave each unit $2,000 upon return of their keys at move-out.
MTO is proud to congratulate the MDTA on its victory. Organizing works!
Breathing Room: MTO Helps a Family Escape Unsafe Housing
Toxic Air in Residential Apartment
Mr. Thomas came through MTO’s doors as a walk-in. He was desperate for help because his apartment was constantly filled with smoke, debris, and other fumes. Despite his repeated pleas to fix the problem, his landlord had done nothing. Mr. Thomas’s seven-year-old son suffers from bronchial asthma. His unit’s noxious air exacerbated his son’s asthma, repeatedly landing him in the hospital emergency room. Mr. Thomas tried to work out a solution and even offered to pay money to the owner to let him out of his lease, but the owner denied his requests.
MTO’s Staff Attorney intervened on his behalf.
After some back and forth, the property owner learned about the potential legal consequences. As a result, they negotiated an agreement that allowed Mr. Thomas to move and receive needed relocation assistance. Now, Mr. Thomas and his son are living in a safe, healthy apartment without the threat of eviction or collections hanging over their heads.
“Just Cause” Ordinance Introduced in City Council
On Wednesday, May 21, numerous supporters descended on Chicago’s City Council Meeting to support the introduction of the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. The law requires landlords to have a just cause to evict a tenant. It would ban evictions due to retaliation. MTO supports passage of the just cause ordinance as a means of balancing power between landlords and tenants. If Just Cause passes, it would mean landlords would no longer have the power to threaten tenants with eviction for requesting repairs or organizing.
Under the proposed law, landlords must state one of seven reasons why they are evicting a tenant. Reasons include: failure to pay rent, follow the lease rules, refusal to sign a lease, the landlord wishes to no longer rent the unit or rent it to a relative, major rehab of the unit, or convert it to condominiums. If the landlord is terminating the lease for a reason in which the tenant is not at fault, then the tenant would be entitled to relocation assistance. So while the law does not end gentrification, it does begin to move the costs of gentrification to the property owners and developers, as they are the ones who benefit. Finally, the bill would create a registry of landlords and require people who own more than 20% of the building to disclose their interest.
Upon introduction, Alderman Ray Lopez asked that the bill be sent to the rules committee. His goal is to try and bury the tenants’ rights legislation. The Chicago Housing Justice Coalition is working with Council member Desmon Yancy to get the bill out of rules and into the housing committee for a hearing.
Our New Location
In case you missed it, our new location is 601 S California at the Westside Justice Center
Advocating Using the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO)
When Naeema moved into her new apartment, she was excited and thinking about the future in her new home. Within the first month, problems began appearing: the toilet would not flush, water pressure was not enough for a proper shower, and roaches scuttled across her floors.
Despite multiple attempts to get her property manager to address these problems, her concerns went unanswered, leaving her feeling stuck and frustrated. That is when Naeema reached out to MTO for help. After listening to her concerns, hotline counselors explained her rights under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), including her remedies for dealing with a neglectful landlord and her right to complain to Chicago’s Department of Buildings for an inspection.
With this information, Naeema felt empowered to act. Together, we helped her draft a letter to the management company detailing the issues and her rights as a tenant. The results were immediate.
Management agreed to let Naeema out of her lease without penalty and offered to refund her first month’s rent and move-in fee. Following this breakthrough, Naeema conducted a walkthrough of the apartment with the property manager. The unit was in the same condition as when she moved in, and the manager confirmed the refund and lease termination. Within that same week, Naeema picked up her refund check, covering her first month’s rent and move-in fees in full. She then moved out, leaving behind the stressful conditions and regaining peace of mind. Naeema’s persistence, combined with the right support and knowledge of her tenant rights, turned a demanding situation into a positive resolution. Now, she is ready for a fresh start in a home that meets her needs.
A Life Disrupted: Lead in the Home
When a child is harmed by lead within the home, family life gets immediately upended. This was true for Michael and Eileen Buchanan, whose 14-month-old tested positive for elevated blood lead levels. A Chicago city inspector confirmed high lead levels throughout their unit.
Right away, Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan changed their lives to protect their child’s health. The Buchanan family began to look for a safe, lead-free place to move. Since they had neither the means nor the opportunity to move immediately, they altered their apartment unit. Their once-cozy home became unrecognizable.
The Buchanans, when possible, traveled to Michigan at their own expense to stay with family and to avoid their unit. Medical bills piled up. Mr. Buchanan had to take off work to focus on taking care of his 14-month-old, putting his job at risk. Adding to the stress was the terror of not knowing how the lead would impact their child, and whether their child would experience long-term health consequences commonly associated with elevated blood lead levels. With help from MTO’s Healthy Homes Organizer, LiMei Vera, and MTO’s Staff Attorney, Philip DeVon, the Buchanans were able to successfully negotiate with their Landlord. While they secured a lease termination agreement and ample relocation assistance, they did not come out unscathed.
The Buchanans’ story is representative of a larger problem faced by tenants in Chicago: without proactive inspections, great responsibility falls on tenants to protect their children from invisible hazards in the unit. When their children are harmed by lead in the unit, they must abruptly make great adjustments in order to keep their children safe. These adjustments are costly – both in terms of time and money – and occur during a time of emotional distress and turmoil. With stories like the Buchanans’ happening throughout the city, our response is clear: we need proactive inspections of all rental units in order to protect children and their families from hazards in the home.
Invisible Hazards At Home: Lead Poisoning
Story By LiMei Vera
When the Bolin family moved into their Lincoln Square apartment in the 47th Ward, they believed they had found the perfect place for their young family. The apartment was affordable and offered a place to grow their roots. They registered their lively two-year-old son for local art and swim classes and prepared to welcome their daughter.
Warning Signs
However, after a year in the apartment, their son began experiencing health problems: he abruptly lost his appetite, had trouble sleeping, and started displaying seemingly inexplicable behavioral changes.
A visit to the doctor gave the Bolin family an unexpected answer: their son had elevated blood lead levels. For children his age, lead attacks the brain and central nervous system. It can cause irreversible damage, contributing to long-term developmental delays and complex behavioral disorders.
For John Bolin, the news was terrifying:
“We’re his parents and are supposed to keep our children safe. Finding out that it’s in your house, and that the one place that should be the safest place for them to be is actually the worst place for them to be, is incredibly upsetting and scary.”
A city inspector confirmed that the Bolin family’s apartment contained dangerous lead levels in the windows, door casings, doors, stairwells, and walls. No amount of lead exposure is considered safe for children under the age of six, but the Bolins’ home contains 58 times the allowable limit.
While this story is haunting, it is all too common in a city that does not mandate proactive inspections of rental units. In Chicago, units are not typically tested for lead until after a child has already been poisoned. Buildings constructed before 1978 commonly contain lead, yet Chicago has no proactive inspection program.
The Bolin family has made significant adjustments to protect their son, who recently celebrated his third birthday, and their daughter, who is just beginning to crawl. The Bolin family spend “all day cleaning the floors so we aren’t tracking lead all over the apartment.” They have set up a playpen and foam mats for their daughter to protect her from dust containing lead on the floor. They refrain from running the AC units, because the inspector noted that the units may pull lead dust from the windows. And everyday,
Rachel Bolin answers questions from her son. He asks why he feels different, why he can’t go to sleep at night, and why he gets so angry – all symptoms associated with lead exposure.
For Rachel, this has been heartbreaking.
“Our children deserve to live normal lives.”
With the help of MTO, the Bolins terminated their lease, and plan to move. Amidst ongoing visits to the doctor’s office, they also face other challenges, such as finding housing on a limited budget on a short timeline. A quick move is costly, and currently after much pressure, the landlords have offered less than a month’s rent of assistance.
Despite these challenges, the Bolins’ first priority is to get their child into safe and healthy housing. This priority needs to inform our city’s policies, too.
Tenants Fight a Roach Infestation with FWP
Story by Tulsi McDaniels
In September 2024, tenants Simone and Andrew moved into a building managed by First Western, only to discover a severe roach infestation. They sought help from MTO, who guided them in drafting a formal termination letter to end their lease early.
However, their experience with First Western quickly became a nightmare. As Simone explained,
“Our experience with First Western was one of the most stressful we’ve ever faced. They completely pulled the rug out from under us once we sent them money. We never even got official keys. They are just a half step away from being a complete scam… leaving us without habitable housing. An experience I wish on no one.”
First Western initially denied their request and demanded an additional two months’ rent to terminate the lease. With MTO’s support, Simone and Andrew stood firm, highlighting the building’s failure to meet health and safety standards. Their persistence paid off when First Western agreed to release them from the lease without extra charges, allowing them to move to a safer home.
Their experience demonstrated the importance of tenant rights and the power of advocacy in the face of predatory property management.
Tenant Lockouts Are Illegal
Story by Tulsi McDaniels
Only A Judge Can Evict You
In July, MTO counselors jumped into action when tenant Harold D. faced an illegal eviction by his landlord.
The landlord changed the locks. Harold called the police. As often happens, the police declined to act or even to file an official report of the incident.
Despite the police refusing to do their job, Harold and the MTO counselor persisted.
With the help of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, an advocate engaged with the landlord, informing him of the potential for jail and daily fines for continuing the lockout. This threat of escalating penalties prompted the landlord to restore Harold’s access within the hour.
Thanks to the effective advocacy and Harold’s persistence, he successfully reclaimed his home and upheld his rights as a tenant.
MTO is currently planning to pilot a lockout project to demonstrate an alternative to relying on the police to enforce the law. Stay tuned and don’t let landlords bully you out of your apartment.