Read Our Testimony to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's Briefing on Fair Housing in Illinois

Senior Staff Attorney Barbara Barreno-Paschall delivers testimony before the U.S. Civil Rights Commission’s Illinois Advisory Committee.

On May 3, 2019, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee Senior Staff Attorney Barbara Barreno-Paschall delivered testimony at a Fair Housing in Illinois Briefing hosted by The Illinois Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Her remarks address the barriers to accessing rental housing that individuals with criminal records and other people of color face as a result of longstanding racial and economic segregation in Chicago.

She also shared how the use of federal disparate impact litigation can challenge policies that entrench segregation, and discussed the need for legislation that expands protections under the fair housing laws for individuals with criminal records.

The Committee invited a range of housing policy experts and advocates, community organizers, and legal advocates to present during the public briefing, including close partners in our work such as Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA), Safer Foundation, and Logan Square Neighborhood association.

You can see the full agenda here.