The Housing and Community Development Committee advanced several changes to the language in the city’s Strategic Housing Plan, nicknamed “Housing4All,” at its Tuesday night meeting.
The committee voted 5-2 to continue deliberating the plan’s “just cause” provision, editing language from “pursuing” to “exploring” the tenants’ rights initiative.
During public comment, community members voiced a mix of criticism and praise for the policy, with opinions largely split among renters’ rights advocates, homeowners and local landlords. “Just cause” programs strengthen renter protections by prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants without valid reasoning and allowing tenants to defend their right to stay.
Several renters showed support for the initiative, highlighting that over 40% of occupied housing units in Evanston are rentals. Some community members, including Evanston resident Maria Rodriguez Flores, spoke directly to landlords attending the meeting, arguing that “just cause” improves tenants’ rights.
“Tenants cannot be put to the side, just as ‘just cause’ cannot be put to the side,” she said. “We’re not here asking for intention, we’re asking for action to strengthen tenant protections against unjustified evictions and involuntary displacement of long-term residents.”
Even with a full-time job, Rodriguez Flores said she cannot afford the high rent in Evanston. Her message drew applause from several community members.
Evanston resident Claudia Garcia-Rojas said the initiative would prevent her landlord from evicting her or declining to renew her lease as “retaliation” when she reports issues to the city.
After claiming she went five days without central heating in sub-zero temperatures last month, Garcia-Rojas spoke about the importance of “just cause” provisions, directly addressing her landlord, who was also present at the meeting.
“I think it’s empowering to do that in front of your landlord who refuses to answer your emails regarding rent adjustment because you are without heat,” Garcia-Rojas told The Daily.
Her comment also led to a verbal conflict with her landlord, who disputed her claims about a lack of heating. The argument was quickly ended by Ald. Bobby Burns (5th), who called the meeting back to order.
Several landlords argued that “just cause” can be detrimental to small landlords, arguing its inclusion in the Housing4All plan may force them to endure long and expensive eviction processes.
Evanston landlord Aron Bornstein asked for the “just cause” and “tenant right to purchase” sections to be removed from the plan entirely.
“It is a bad policy that forces out the good tenants and forces you to keep the bad tenants,” Bornstein said.
The Housing4All plan is expected to appear before City Council in April, with further discussion from the committee about line items planned for HCDC’s March meeting.
“If we didn’t have a housing problem, we wouldn’t have this much work to do,” said Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th). “We owe our residents, especially our renters, the discussion of ‘just cause.’”
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