Community Education Materials
Chicago Appleseed believes that one of the best ways to improve access to justice is to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities, as well as inform them of the legal services available in our area. To that end, we write and distribute publications for the general population.
The 2009 Legal Services Directory of Free and Low Cost Legal Services is a comprehensive listing of civil and criminal legal assistance agencies in the Chicagoland area that serve mainly low-income persons, persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Information includes income eligibility guidelines, fees, phone/fax numbers, street, website and e-mail addresses, hours of operation, wheelchair accessibility, foreign languages spoken at the organization, whether or not an appointment is necessary and the type of services offered by each organization. Organizations are listed alphabetically and cross-referenced by the services they offer for easy use. The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice is the only organization in Chicago to compile, organize and distribute this information in such a reader-friendly format, and the directory is revised every year to include the most up-to-date information. Hard copies are available for $5.00 by calling the Chicago Appleseed office at 312-988-6565.
The Tenant-Landlord Handbook explains the rights and duties of tenants and landlords throughout Illinois, specifically in Chicago, with the goal of improving how disputes are handled. By explaining the rights and duties of both landlord and tenant under the law, we hope to encourage fair and equitable negotiation of conflicts and decrease the use of illegal practices such as tenant lockouts and destruction of property. The handbook includes over 150 pages of information on housing resources, sample forms, frequently asked questions, legal practices, anti-discrimination laws, and suggestions for peacefully and fairly resolving conflict. The cost for a hard copy is $15.00: to order your copy, call the Chicago Appleseed office at 312-988-6565.
At this time, The Tenant-Landlord Handbook is being updated. When it is complete, it will be available for download on this page.