LCBH News

Welcome to LCBH’s Blog. Our blog delivers original articles written by our staff, interns and volunteers. We strive to provide informative stories about the work we do on behalf of Chicago renters and the issues renters face.

Welcome to LCBH’s Social Work Interns

October 20, 2015 posted in LCBH News, Interns

LCBH’s 2015-2016 social work interns (from left to right: Nicol, Samantha, Sylvie, Emily, Aileen, and Mary)

Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) is proud to introduce our six 2015 – 2016 social work interns who will be assisting LCBH clients with wraparound services to help to break down housing barriers. They will be here at LCBH through the spring and are excited to learn and assist in the struggle for affordable housing and we are excited for their help!

Mary Difino – Mary is a first year student at Jane Addams College of Social Work at University of Illinois at Chicago . After working and volunteering with Chicago Public Schools in the Austin and Cabrini Green neighborhoods, Mary decided to pursue a degree in School Social Work to become a better equipped and informed advocate for Chicago’s youth. She hopes to one day take the skills she has acquired to serve the Native American population of Northern Minnesota.

Nicol Elio – Nicol is in her final year of the Masters of Social Work Program at DePaul University. Nicol is originally from New York and has had many new experiences while in Chicago. She wants to become a social worker in order to help those less privileged. She is looking forward to gaining a macro level experience at LCBH.

Dine Out 2015 - Thank You!

August 18, 2015 posted in LCBH News

Thank you to all the guests who joined LCBH at DINE OUT 2015 on Thursday, July 30 at Zella. Guests had a great time networking and enjoying the patio. The 50/50 raffle was a success and a round of applause to YPB newest member Megan Burke for donating her 50/50 raffle winning back to the agency! Thanks to everyone who attended and special thanks to the LCBH Young Professional Board for organizing the event!

Law Students Come from Across the Country to Protect Tenants' Rights!

August 18, 2015 posted in Single Room Occupancy (SRO), Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance (KCRO), LCBH News, Interns

This summer, five legal interns spent their summer working with Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH), advocating for the rights of renters. Without these students, and recent graduates, who come to spend their summer with us, LCBH would have a tough time offering the legal services our clients need to resolve their housing issues. We asked each intern to share highlights from their LCBH experiences this summer:

Chloe Noonan came from Boston University School of Law to work with LCBH’s affordable housing preservation efforts. As part of her internship, Chloe regularly travels to buildings throughout Chicago to work with tenant unions. One of her favorite collaborations has been with a group of tenants on the south side living in a building that had fallen into disrepair. Chloe worked with the group to help them identify their common goals and used her knowledge of housing law to empower them to push for better management in the building.

Staff Outing

August 18, 2015 posted in LCBH News

This summer, staff took time to enjoy an afternoon of bowling at Timber Lanes bowling alley. With the number of tenants in need of LCBH services increasing each year, the event was a nice break from staff members’ normally hectic schedules. Congratulations to staff attorney Frank Avellone for bowling 3 strikes in a row!!!

Join Us for Dine Out 2015

July 16, 2015 posted in LCBH News

LCBH's Young Professionals Board proudly presents Dine Out 2015!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015 - 6:00pm to 10:00pm

Dine Out 2015

June 16, 2015 posted in LCBH News

LCBH's Young Professionals Board proudly presents Dine Out 2015!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015 - 6:00pm to 10:00pm

Looking for a fun night out? Want to support a great cause? Join us for an evening of cocktails, food and friends.

20% of your dinner and drink dollars will go to Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing programs.

Meet our New Supportive Services Director

June 16, 2015 posted in LCBH News, Interns

The staff at Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) work hard every day to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. Whether it is an attorney, volunteer, or intern they are 100% invested in our mission and our clients. As many of you may know, what makes LCBH different is our holistic approach to helping those in need, which involves providing additional supportive services to our most vulnerable clients. Here is a chance for you to meet our new Supportive Services Director, Christine Daly who joined the team just a few months ago.

Q: How would people describe you?
A: Goofy. Loyal. Organized. Motivated. Tough. Caring.

A “Round of Applause” for LCBH Housing Heroes

May 26, 2015 posted in LCBH News

Another round of applause, please, for the 2015 Housing Heroes who sponsored Hearts for Housing and to all who participated! Your generosity and commitment to safe, decent and affordable housing for all helped LCBH have its most successful event to date. Many who live in poverty will benefit from the $100,000 you raised to support LCBH programming! The legal and supportive services that LCBH provides are, many times, the last defense against homelessness. Thank you for giving so much heart – to the Hearts for Housing event, and to our community. You are all housing heroes!!!

Housing Heroes

Champion
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Sidley & Austin
Todd and Susan Maynes

Leader
Brinks Gilson & Lione
Jones Day

Builder
Banner & Witcoff
Deloitte
Insperity
Louis DiSanto
McGuire Woods
Sharon King Foundation

Hearts for Housing - Thank You!

May 26, 2015 posted in LCBH News

LCBH would like to thank everyone who attended our tenth Annual Hearts for Housing Fundraiser on April 24th. It was great fun to spend the evening playing cards, eating, drinking, and networking with YOU to support a great cause!

Your generosity along with many other individuals, sponsors, and local businesses made Hearts for Housing 2015 a smashing success. Thank you!

LCBH was able to raise over $100,000 to support programs that provide legal and supportive services impacting over 10,000 lower income renters a year. Every one of us has something to contribute to keeping Chicago vibrant and affordable for all of us because we all deserve a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.

We owe a special thanks to LCBH Board of Directors and the Young Professionals Board for their extraordinary efforts in making this raffle and auction a great success! It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when people come together to improve our community!

Thank you for attending this special event and for your support. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Congrats to Annemarie, Jim, Steve, and Bert our Hearts for Housing 2015 Tournament Winners!

Again, thank you for your continued support of LCBH’s mission. We look forward to seeing you at future events!

Photos from the event

Young Professionals Board Spotlight

Q & A with Jessica Panza

May 26, 2015 posted in Pro Bono, LCBH News

Young Professionals Board President, Jessica Panza

LCBH’s Young Professionals Board (YPB) began in 2010. The YPB has played a very important role in Hearts for Housing – acquiring raffle prizes, selling raffle and event tickets, and volunteering during this popular LCBH annual event. On the heels of celebrating the tenth annual Hearts for Housing, we thought we would introduce you to YPB President, Jessica Panza. Thank you, Jessica, for all that you do for LCBH. Your enthusiasm is infectious!

How did you first get involved with Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing?
Claire Battle, LCBH Board Secretary, introduced me to LCBH several years ago, when we were both starting our careers as attorneys. She had been involved for quite some time and her enthusiasm for the organization spurred my involvement. As I learned about LCBH's mission, the real need for LCHB's services in our community, and lack of other similar resources, I better understood Claire's passion for LCBH and jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the formation of the Young Professional's Board.