Next Steps after Discrimination
What can you do if you believe the landlord discriminated against you?
WRITE DOWN everything that happens with names, dates, and locations.
REPORT THE INCIDENT to any of the following agencies. You may contact a private fair housing organization to assist you, or you may contact one of the enforcement agencies directly.
Organizations to Help with Filing a Complaint or Legal Assistance:
- UIC Fair Housing Clinic (general)
- Northside Community Resources (general)
- CARPLS (general hotline)
- Uptown People's Law Center (focuses on discrimination based on prior criminal history)
- Access Living (focuses on disability discrimination)
- Equip for Equality (focuses on service animals, emotional support animals, or assistive technology)
- Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
- Legal Aid Chicago (focuses on tenants with subsidized housing and domestic violence victims)
- Lambda Legal (focuses on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and HIV status)
- Legal Council for Health Justice (focuses on discrimination based perceived or actual HIV status)
- Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (focuses on unaccompanied youth or homeless)
Enforcement Agencies:
| Agency to Contact | Cook County Commission on Human Rights | Illinois Department of Human Rights | U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Types of Discrimination Covered | Race Color Religion Sex (including sexual harassment) National Origin Ancestry Age Disability Marital Status Parental Status Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Source of Income Military Discharge Status Criminal History |
Race Color Religion Sex (including sexual harassment) National Origin Ancestry Age Disability Marital Status Familial Status Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Pregnancy Unfavorable Military Discharge Military Status Order of Protection Status |
Race Color Religion Sex (including sexual harassment) National Origin Disability Familial Status |
| Geographic Limitations | Cook County (including Chicago) | Illinois | United States |
| Time Limitations to File Complaint | Must file within 180 days of alleged violation | Must file within 1 year of alleged violation | Must file within 1 year of alleged violation |
| Kind of Relief Available | Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Fines to the County Injunctive Relief, including emergency relief (such as order to sell/rent or order to cease eviction) Attorneys Fees and Costs to prevailing complainant |
Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Fines to the State Injunctive Relief, including emergency relief (such as order to sell/rent or order to cease eviction) Attorneys Fees and Costs to prevailing complainant |
Make whole damages (such as moving expenses, rent differentials and emotional distress damages) Punitive Damages Fines to the City Injunctive Relief, including emergency relief (such as order to sell/rent or order to cease eviction) Attorneys Fees and Costs to prevailing complainant |
| Agency Contact Information | 69 W. Washington St. Suite 3040 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 603-1100 (312) 603-1101 (TDD) |
555 West Monroe Street 7th Floor Chicago, IL 60661 (312) 814-6229 (866) 740-3953 (TTY) (800) 662-3942 (Toll free) |
77 W. Jackson Suite 2101 Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 353-5680 (800) 669-9777 (Toll free) (312) 353-7143 (TTY) |
The above article provides information about legal issues but is not the same as legal advice. Legal advice is when a lawyer applies the law to your specific situation. The information in this article does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. Law Center for Better Housing cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information in this article and is not responsible for any consequences that may result from using it. You should consult with a licensed attorney to ensure the information in this article is appropriate for your specific situation. Using the information in this article does not create a relationship between Law Center for Better Housing and you as your attorney.