Tenants' Rights Resources

Tenants’ rights organizations can help you to understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Review the law resources in Chapter 4: Professional Services and turn to Chapter 25: When Disputes Arise to learn how to handle disputes without resorting to the legal system. The remainder of this section is devoted to resources specifically targeted to tenant issues.

Metropolitan Tenants Organization
The Metropolitan Tenants Organization or MTO is a coalition of community organizations and individuals dedicated to safe, decent and affordable housing for all. MTO runs a tenants rights hotline, trains community-based organizations on tenant rights, organizes buildings and participates in affordable housing advocacy campaigns. Contact 773-292-4988, or visit their Website.

Residential Alternatives for Dispute Resolution
Residential Alternatives for Dispute Resolution (RADR) is a program of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR). Through RADR, CCR mediators assist tenants, landlords, neighbors, owners, and cooperative and condo associations in resolving conflicts.

Issues mediated include neighbor disputes, condo association disputes, and tenants’ rights issues under the City of Chicago’s Residential Landlord - Tenant Ordinance. For more information, contact 312-922-6464 or visit their Website.

Legal Help for Low-income Tenants

• Sheldon H. Roodman Legal Assistance Foundation
  Contact: 312-341-1070.

Fair Housing and Discrimination Issues

• Lawyer's Committee for Better Housing
  Provides assistance with family discrimination and building code enforcement. See the Resources section of Chapter 4 for more details, or contact 312-347-7600.

• Commission on Human Relations
  Provides assistance with discrimination complaints.
  Contact 312-744-4111.

• John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center
  Educates the public on fair housing law and legal assistance to private or public organizations that seek to eliminate discriminatory housing practices. See the Resources section of Chapter 4 for more details, or contact 312-786-2267.

Eviction Defense

• Loyola University Community Law Center
  Contact 312-915-7120

For Security Deposit Complaints

• Chicago Department of Consumer Services
  Contact 312-744-9400

Subsidized Housing Issues

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  Contact (National): 312-353-7143
  Contact (Chicago): 312-747-9000