A growing coalition of elderly residents and advocates in Chicago is pushing for a new legislative measure titled the “Senior Bill of Rights,” aimed at shielding older citizens from exploitative housing practices.
The initiative, introduced to the City Council this week by Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), seeks to create additional protections for those aged 55 and above, in light of numerous complaints about predatory actions by landlords and property management firms.
During a press conference at City Hall on Wednesday, Taylor expressed her concerns that local officials often overlook the needs of seniors until election season arrives. Many elderly residents in her ward reportedly feel neglected and unsupported.
“No one at City Hall can tell seniors where to go when they’re being mistreated or abused,” Taylor stated.
According to Taylor, older residents have been vocal about their desire for a Bill of Rights that offers protection and accountability from the very entities that claim to serve their interests.
She pointed out that while these seniors are reliable voters, they often feel ignored when they seek assistance outside of campaign periods.
Among the proposals outlined in the ordinance is the revival of a standalone Department of Aging, which was merged into the Department of Family and Support Services in 2009.
This dedicated department could provide older residents with a direct line to city resources, enabling them to advocate for better living conditions in the communities they have long cared for and invested in through their taxes.
Taylor was joined in her advocacy by representatives from groups such as the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization and People for Community Recovery, along with fellow Alds. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and Angela Clay (46th), both of whom expressed their commitment to work towards the passage of the ordinance.
Mayor Brandon Johnson also briefly attended the conference, indicating his support for the proposed bill before heading into council chambers. He mentioned in a statement to Block Club that both he and the budget and finance team were evaluating the financial implications of reinstating the Department of Aging.
“This is a critical issue, and we want to ensure that it is done right,” Johnson said.
The coalition of advocates worked diligently for three years to draft this bill, which emerged in response to repeated concerns from older residents regarding unsatisfactory living conditions—often marked by pest infestations, malfunctioning appliances, and deteriorating infrastructure.
The proposed Senior Bill of Rights includes provisions that would allow older tenants to organize and be shielded from any retaliation that may come from property managers and landlords.
If a violation is identified, senior residents would gain the right to terminate their rental agreements without penalty.
Additionally, they would be eligible to recover either two months’ rent or twice the actual damages incurred, along with attorney fees.
In cases where a rental agreement is terminated, landlords would bear responsibility for any incurred fees, enhancing the protections afforded to vulnerable residents.
The proposed ordinance would also obligate property managers to develop a safety plan to safeguard residents’ well-being.
Currently, uncertainty exists regarding the enforcement and investigative procedures for potential violations under this proposed framework.
The Kenwood Oakland Community Organization’s Involved Seniors for Justice group has been actively assisting older residents confronted with unwelcoming building staff and unsafe living conditions, according to Executive Director Shannon Bennett.
A report from DePaul University’s Institute for Housing Studies in 2021 highlighted that 43 percent of older residents in Chicago are renters, a trend that continues to increase yearly.
Around 20,000 older residents occupy some form of affordable housing, with approximately half of them residing in buildings managed by the Chicago Housing Authority and the remainder in privately owned units supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Evelyn Johnson, a resident of St. Edmund’s Tower—a senior living facility—shared her frustrations, describing her experiences since the management changed hands years ago.
Having faced multiple break-ins, Johnson recounted her interactions with building staff, where requests for repairs were met with hostility and vulgar language.
In one unsettling incident, she found a marijuana joint left on her pillow after a break-in.
Johnson, aged 67, voiced her ongoing struggles, including a hospitalization resulting from her reactions to chemicals used for pest control within her unit, an issue she had repeatedly notified staff about.
She is currently seeking legal representation to address her grievances.
Another resident, Brenda Duncan, echoed Johnson’s frustrations, explaining how she and her neighbors face long delays for maintenance requests in their Far North Side building.
While she expresses hope for the ordinance’s passage, Duncan’s trust in local officials has diminished significantly.
“I don’t think no one in politics actually cares,” she stated.
Duncan highlighted the contrast between the assistance offered during election times and the lack of response when residents genuinely need help, a sentiment shared by many in the room.
image source from：blockclubchicago
