Stout was engaged by the Chicago Bar Foundation as the independent evaluator of the City of Chicago’s Eviction Right to Counsel pilot program (the RTC Pilot).

Launched in April 2022, the Pilot is a three-year, $8 million program designed to provide free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction in Chicago. The RTC Pilot works in tandem with the Early Resolution Program (ERP) and Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD), which is a collaborative effort that provides free legal assistance for tenants facing eviction, small landlords navigating eviction issues, homeowners who are delinquent in their mortgage or property tax payments, and individuals with consumer debt issues. CCLAHD is supported by a central legal hotline operated by CARPLS that educates callers about the legal process and their rights, connects people with legal services resources, and provides brief legal advice as needed. CCLAHD also has a mediation component whereby all unrepresented tenants can meet with a case manager from the Center for Conflict Resolution who can connect the tenant to rental assistance and can assist with mediation services. The unique model is intended to ensure all unrepresented tenants can access high-quality legal assistance in eviction cases based on the circumstances faced by the tenant. However, limitations in capacity resulted in some tenants who could have benefited from more extensive services not receiving them.

Our evaluation included quantitative measures estimating that for every $1 spent on the RTC Pilot, the City of Chicago likely realized $2.75 to $3.35 in potential public fiscal impacts between February 2022 and March 2024. Additionally, approximately 92% to 95% of RTC Pilot clients who had a goal of “avoid a formal eviction” were able to achieve this goal with assistance from an RTC Pilot attorney. RTC Pilot clients were often experiencing complex housing disputes or had acute vulnerabilities, such as a disability in the household or a substantive legal defense to their case, which can result in more significant consequences if their case goals are not achieved. Approximately 58% to 62% of RTC Pilot clients who wanted to stay in their home were able to achieve that goal with assistance from an attorney. When this goal could not be achieved, RTC Pilot attorneys were instrumental in securing additional time for clients to move, often minimizing the disruption their household experienced.

Throughout the evaluation, we sought feedback from local stakeholders, including landlords and their counsel. The unique perspectives, experiences, and expertise of all stakeholders were considered in the independent evaluation and were used to inform recommendations for further implementing, expanding, and refining the RTC Pilot.

Learn more about CCLAHD, and read Stout's independent evaluation report.