Intro to the Illinois Safe Homes Act

The Illinois Safe Homes Act is an important state law that protects people who need to move or have their locks changed because they are experiencing domestic or sexual violence. Under the law, domestic and sexual violence are defined broadly, to include many types of gender-based violence including stalking, abuse, and sexual assault. Here are some important things to know about this law: 

1. Who is protected: The law protects people experiencing domestic or sexual violence who live in market-rate rental housing or subsidized housing (except for one subsidized housing program: public housing). For all tenants living in subsidized housing programs, they can also rely on the Violence Against Women Act for additional housing protections.
2. What it does - Lease Terminations: If there is a credible imminent threat of harm, survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking may terminate their lease. Even if there is not an imminent threat of harm, survivors of sexual violence can also terminate their lease within 60 days of experiencing sexual violence on the property.
3. What it does - Lock Changes: Tenants can also request that their housing provider change their locks if they are under a credible and imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence.

To read through a list of common questions from survivors to stay safe, click here.