ORGANIZING VICTORIES

NORTHWEST HOME EQUITY
ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Throughout 2017-18, we organized residents to fight for new leadership over the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program, a $9.6 million taxpayer fund that was sorely mismanaged and underutilized since its creation in the 1980s when it was founded combat white flight. In December 2018, our persistent agitation led to the resignation of the program director and a new board who better reflect the community was instated to repurpose the funds to provide low-interest loans to homeowners.

FULLERTON SMALL BUSINESS CORRIDOR SAFETY CAMPAIGN

We helped business owners along the Fullerton Avenue commercial corridor organize a safety campaign after one small business experienced a robbery. In partnership with their Alderman and the City of Chicago, a dozen businesses organized to bring a new police camera and increased police foot-traffic to foster a greater sense of safety along their commercial corridor. All told, their efforts comprise $30,000 in investment.

RENT CONTROL AND
PROPERTY TAX JUSTICE

If you live in Chicago’s 23rd precinct, your municipal elections ballot included a referendum for lifting the ban on rent control in 2018. This is due in part to the steadfast organizing and door-knocking of our housing organizer, Ernie Lukasik, who in addition to supporting the Lift the Ban Coalition, also leads our Homeowners United Committee who are actively organizing for property tax reform.