Spanish Coalition for Housing Addresses the Forgotten Side to Fair Housing Amid the Pandemic

Spanish Coalition for Housing
Published: April 21, 2021

Agency Connects 520+ Independent Landlords with Resources as COVID-19 Housing Policies Favor Renters

As the pandemic still interrupts the financial stability of many Chicagoans, Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH) continues to be a resource for fair housing across Chicago, especially among independent property owners, who have often been overlooked when it comes to fair housing. In 2020, SCH counseled more than 520 small landlords (defined by SCH as 2-3 multi-unit landlords), connecting them to resources to improve property management and maintain safe, sustainable and affordable housing for over 2,000 rental units throughout the City.

In Chicago, about 70% of rental units are owned by small- and mid-sized landlords. Being independent property owners, many of these landlords depend on their tenants’ rent to pay their bills; therefore, the pandemic housing policies that place renters’ rights at the forefront, such as the eviction moratorium, puts these smaller landlords at risk. Additionally, these landlords have the largest share of Black and Hispanic owners, whose households have already been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

“At Spanish Coalition for Housing, we recognize the direct impact these housing policies have on independent property owners and identify resources that will best support our landlord clients,” said Joseph Lopez, Executive Director of SCH. “Through our Chicago Bilingual Landlord Association and CHA Community Alliance partnership, we have various networks and a variety of options that we utilize to assist Chicago’s small landlords.”

As part of the CHA Community Alliance, SCH offers free educational workshops and connects Chicagoans to CHA resources, such as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program for property owners. The HCV Program positions landlords to have reliable rent payments, lower vacancy rates, free property inspections and even a potential reduction in property taxes.

“With the Housing Choice Voucher Program, I am better able to survive the pandemic. The program provides me with reliable rent payments during this time that many renters are struggling to pay rent,” said Albert Zaucha, longtime SCH client. “Spanish Coalition for Housing has done a great job connecting me with tenants through the program and has also been a really great resource during the pandemic.”

SCH staff members invite anyone interested in their services or that has questions about available resources to email (help@sch4housing.org) or call for dedicated assistance (North Region: 773-342-7575; Southeast Region: 773-933-7575; Southwest Region: 312-850-2660)

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About SCH: Spanish Coalition for Housing is a 501 (c)3, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified Housing Counseling agency that was founded in 1966 and has grown exponentially in the years following. SCH sees and successfully serves over 10,000 clients each year.

Keywords: COVID-19, COVID-19 resource, Free, Free Services, housing, Housing Assistance, Support, Workshop, workshops