Evanston-area nonprofits and Northwestern community members spoke to Evanston residents Tuesday evening about their rights as tenants.

The panel, which was hosted by Open Communities, a North Shore fair housing nonprofit, provided information about local tenant services and legal assistance.

Organizations such as Connections for the Homeless, which is based in Evanston, and the Legal Assistance Foundation, which serves Chicago and suburban Cook County, described their services in rent assistance and free legal counsel for low-income tenants to a group of more than 20 attendees.

An Evanston Health Department representative spoke about city housing inspections and smoking regulations. Clean air ordinances prevent tenants from smoking in common areas in an apartment building but do not address smoking in individual units, even when it affects neighbor tenants, she said.

Members of the NU community were also present, suggesting ways for tenants to conserve water and energy and mentioning services available to students seeking off-campus housing.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the number of attendees at the meeting. The Daily regrets the error.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @jeannekuang