Momentum: 35 Years of Housing Action

35 Years of Housing Action
a fair chance at
rebuilding
WILLETTE BENFORD
Just Housing Leader
Willette Benford speaks at the celebration for the passage
of the Just Housing Amendment
Housing Action co-led the Just Housing Initiative (JHI), a campaign to pass a groundbreaking measure
to protect applicants with arrest and conviction records from housing discrimination in Cook County. Our
coalition prioritized the voices and leadership of people with lived experience during the campaign. The
stories and testimony of Just Housing Leaders such as Willette Benford and Abby and Sophia O’Quin proved
to be a powerful, critical component of JHI, openly affecting key Cook County Commissioners.
I am motivated to be an advocate because of injustice and
oppression couched in law and promoted as righteousness. Many
laws are unjust laws and they adversely affect those of us that
have been formerly incarcerated with permanent punishments. I
became involved with the Just Housing Initiative after thinking of
the impact of homelessness on individuals being denied one of
life’s basic necessities such as housing and how that would affect
multitudes. As a returning resident seeking housing, I knew that
there was a chance that the laws in place could adversely affect
me and I could be without housing.
The passing of the Just Housing Amendment meant that now we
at least had some ammunition to fight back with when someone
looked at our past and disqualified us for housing, not because
we wouldn’t be exceptional tenants but because some people still
believed in perpetual punishment, even when they claim to believe
that the carceral system works. Thankfully, the majority of the Cook
County Commissioners also believed that we were going to need
extra support, and chose to pass the housing legislation 15-2.
But this work isn’t done. There have to be concentrated efforts
towards implementation of the Just Housing Amendment
and permanent housing solutions for those returning to our
communities. When you make something into law, implementation
is the next step. People need housing when they come home. With
so many people and organizations committed to housing justice
and housing solutions, there are many creative ways to provide
housing to those that are directly impacted.
Willette Benford (left) celebrates the passage of the Just Housing
Amendment with Commissioner Brandon Johnson and Maria Moon
of CAFHA
As someone formerly incarcerated who was denied housing from
an ally and had to actually use an ordinance that I was involved in
passing to advocate for myself, just let me say that not everyone
who speaks about housing is interested in housing those of us
with records. The passing of the ordinance let me know that
there were people who really believe that housing is a human
right. Having entities like the Chicago Housing Authority, which
had a pilot program open to people with records, was literally
life saving for me. Without that pilot program, things would have
been extremely difficult for me. When we implement ways to
assist those that are returning through rent and housing with
supplemental rental programs, permanent supportive housing,
and rent incentives, we are creating safe, healthy environments
and communities for everyone.
I wish more people understood that those of us returning after
incarceration want the same things they want. Many of us are
hard-working, and with an opportunity to do so, we can be
productive. We need to be given a fair chance, make a livable
wage, take care of our families, and have a safe, secure place
to call home. With these opportunities and resources made
available, we would not struggle to survive, but thrive, and when
those in the community thrive, we all win. We are not looking for a
handout but could benefit greatly from a fair chance at rebuilding
our lives. •
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