City of Joliet, Housing Discrimination, Illinois 2023

City of Joliet Settles Housing Discrimination Lawsuit, Preserving Affordable Housing for Low-Income Residents

The City of Joliet in Illinois has settled a housing discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the Civil Rights Division, ensuring that low-income residents in the southwest Chicago suburb will have access to affordable housing for at least the next 20 years.

The agreement, approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, resolves the claims of the United States in two lawsuits alleging that the city discriminated against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act when it attempted to condemn a federally subsidized affordable housing development, Evergreen Terrace.

Evergreen Terrace contains 356 units of affordable housing, currently operated by a private owner pursuant to a 20-year contract with HUD. Under the agreement, if the city acquires the property through condemnation or otherwise, any displaced resident will be able to remain in affordable housing in Joliet, and at least 115 low-income housing units will continue to be available for families at the property or, subject to HUD approval, elsewhere in Joliet.

“The United States is committed to ensuring that individuals and families, regardless of their race or income, have an opportunity to live in the community of their choosing,” said Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “This settlement ensures that, if the city prevails in its eminent domain action, Evergreen Terrace residents will not be forced to leave the city and low-income housing opportunities will be preserved in the city.”

Under today’s settlement, if the city acquires the property, it will still be bound by certain restrictions designed to protect residents and preserve affordable housing within the city of Joliet. Among other things, the agreement ensures that tenants who wish to remain in Joliet will not be displaced unless and until Joliet finds suitable housing in the city that will also accept the residents’ federal housing subsidies.

The agreement also requires the city to preserve at least 115 of the low-income housing units for the next 20 years. The housing units would remain at the property initially, but the city could seek to transfer the subsidy to another development in Joliet pursuant to HUD’s program requirements for such transfers. No such transfer could be carried out until the replacement housing is ready for occupancy.

Defendant: City of Joliet

Criminal Charges: Housing Discrimination

City and State: Joliet, Illinois

Exact Date: 2023

Sentence or Outcome: Settlement agreement

Legal Entity: City of Joliet

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-and-hud-settle-discrimination-claims-against-city-joliet-ill