Cook County Illinois - JHA ~ It is a Game Changer?

[Patrice Boenzi]

Is all my Illinois, Cook County, landlords/sellers of real estate aware of the new Amendment? Just Housing Amendment went into effect on January 1, 2020 with a delayed enforcement until February 1, 2020. 

Taken from the cookcountyil.gov/just-housing-amendment-human-rights-ordiance website:

Why did the Cook County Board of Commissioners pass the Just Housing Amendment (JHA) to the Human Rights Ordinance?

In most cities, people with any kind of criminal record, even just an arrest, can be unfairly denied housing. The JHA was passed to help these individuals access safe, stable and affordable housing.

The JHA:

1. 1. Prohibits housing providers and landlords from denying a housing application based on juvenile and arrest records; and
2. 2. Requires landlords to perform an individualized assessment prior to denying any housing.

According to their website, this applies to all real estate transactions including sale, rental, lease, and sublease renewal of residential properties.

Is this a game changer?