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On Thursday, January 13, the City of Evanston’s Reparations Committee approved 122 applicants qualifying as “Ancestors” for the City’s Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program.
The 122 Ancestor applicants were randomly ordered at Thursday’s Committee meeting via a drawing, and the first 16 applicants will be eligible initially to participate in the Restorative Housing Program, which will provide grants of up to $25,000 to purchase a home, home improvement or mortgage assistance.
At the direction of the Reparations Committee, funds currently available for the Restorative Housing Program will be prioritized for Ancestors – defined as an African American or Black individual, at least 18 years old at the time, who was an Evanston resident between 1919 and 1969.
Next Steps
The City will be reaching out to the first 16 Ancestor applicants identified via their application’s unique ID number to ensure their eligibility and interest in participating in the Restorative Housing Program.
Verified Ancestor List
What is the Restorative Housing Program?
The first reparations initiative developed by the City of Evanston is the Restorative Housing Program. The Program acknowledges the harm caused to African-American/Black Evanston residents due to discriminatory housing policies and practices and inaction on the part of the City from 1919-1969. The goal of the Program is to:
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Revitalize, preserve and stabilize Black/African-American owner-occupied homes in Evanston
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Increase homeownership and build the wealth of Black/African-American residents;
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Build intergenerational equity amongst Black/African-American residents
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Improve the retention rate of Black/African-American homeowners in the City of Evanston
Funds support the following initiatives:
Home Ownership: The Home Ownership initiative provides down payment/closing cost assistance to purchase real property located within the City.
Home Improvement: The Home Improvement initiative provides funds to repair, improve, or modernize real property located within the City.
Mortgage Assistance: Mortgage Assistance initiatives provide funds to pay down mortgage principal, interest, and/or late penalties for real property located within the City
Is the Restorative Housing Program the only reparations program being offered by the City?
No, the Restorative Housing Program is the first initiative developed for local reparations by the Reparations Subcommittee. Resolution 126-R-19 specifically identified housing assistance and relief initiatives for Black or African American residents in Evanston and various economic development programs and opportunities for Black or African American residents and entrepreneurs in Evanston. Once the newly formed Reparations Committee is seated in May, future reparations initiatives will be developed through additional community outreach.
What’s the next step regarding the Evanston Restorative Housing Program?
Guidelines for the Evanston Restorative Housing Program will be submitted to City Council for approval at the March 22 City Council meeting. If approved, the Reparations Subcommittee will host a number of Q&A sessions to educate the community on the guidelines and prior to the implementation of the program.
When can I apply for the Restorative Housing Program?
The Evanston Restorative Housing Program will be discussed at the March 22 City Council meeting. If approved, the Reparations Committee will develop an application process. More details to follow.
Why is the City of Evanston implementing local reparations?
After the passage of Resolution 58-R-19, “Commitment to End Structural Racism and Achieve Racial Equity,” in the summer of 2019, the Evanston City Council took action to address the historical wealth and opportunity gaps that African American/Black residents of Evanston experienced. Alderman Robin Rue Simmons sought a “Solutions Only” process with the support of the City’s Equity and Empowerment Commission to identify actions that the City could take to implement a meaningful repair and reparations policy. The first initiative identified was a housing program.
Why is the City’s first reparations program focused on housing?
In July 2019, the Equity and Empowerment Commission held community meetings to solicit feedback from community members on what reparations would look like for the City of Evanston. Affordable housing and economic development were the top priorities identified during those meetings. A report was submitted to the City Council for consideration and was the basis for Resolution 126-R-19, “Establishing the City of Evanston Reparations Fund and the Reparations Subcommittee.”
Reparations, and any process for restorative relief, must connect between the harm imposed and the City. The strongest case for reparations by the City of Evanston is in the area of housing, where there is sufficient evidence showing the City’s part in housing discrimination as a result of early City zoning ordinances in place between 1919 and 1969, when the City banned housing discrimination.
View the Evanston Policies and Practices Directly Affecting the African American Community, 1900 - 1960 (and Present) draft report written by Dino Robinson of Shorefront Legacy and Dr. Jenny Thompson of Evanston History Center.
How can I qualify for local reparations?
In Evanston, the local reparations fund was established to support initiatives addressing the historical wealth and opportunity gaps for African American/Black residents. The first initiative is the Restorative Housing Program. Once approved by City Council, the program guidelines will provide details on how individuals will be able to qualify and additional information regarding document verification and submission.
Why doesn’t the City give cash payments for Reparations?
Due to IRS reporting requirements, the City does not have the authority to exempt direct payments from either state or federal income taxes. As a result, a recipient would be liable for the tax burden associated with the award. The amount a particular recipient would owe would depend on their overall income, but it could be as much as 24 to 28 percent owed to the IRS and Illinois. The Restorative Housing Program disbursements of funds would go directly to the financial institution or vendor which will be responsible for the tax liability, not the resident.
How much money has the City dedicated to local reparations?
In November 2019, the Evanston City Council adopted Resolution 126-R-19, “Establishing the City of Evanston Reparations Fund and the Reparations Subcommittee.” The resolution committed the first $10 million dollars of the City’s Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (3 percent on gross sales of cannabis) to fund local reparations for housing and economic development programs for Black Evanston residents.
Is Reparations only for African American/Black Evanston residents who are United States direct descendants of slaves?
No. The program identifies eligible applicants as Black or African American persons having origins in any of the Black racial and ethnic groups of Africa. The person must reside in Evanston at the time of disbursement of funds.
Does Evanston Reparations have local and national support?
Yes. The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) and the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) both support and endorse Evanston's Restorative Housing Program.
How was the Equity and Empowerment Commission involved in Reparations?
In July 2019, the Equity and Empowerment Commission held community meetings to solicit feedback from community members on what reparations would look like for the City of Evanston. Attendees identified five priority categories for action, which include:
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Housing
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Economic development
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Education
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Finances
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History/Culture
This report was submitted to City Council for consideration and was the basis for the Resolution 126-R-19, “Establishing the City of Evanston Reparations Fund and the Reparations Subcommittee.”
The housing initiative is the first program established by the City of Evanston as part of local reparations. Once the newly formed Reparations Committee is seated a community outreach plan will be developed to ensure members of the community are participating in the development of future reparations initiatives.
How have community members been involved in the process?
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The Equity and Empowerment Commission held two community meetings in July 2019 to solicit feedback from the community to identify meaningful solutions for reparations.
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The Reparations Subcommittee hosted three town halls - in December 2019, May 2020 and August 2020 - to educate and inform the community on Reparations at the Local and Federal level.
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An update to the City Council was provided on December 14 to discuss the Restorative Housing Reparations Program guidelines.
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The Reparations Subcommittee has held fifteen public meetings since January 2020 to discuss the program development of the Restorative Housing Program.
On November 9, 2020, City Council adopted of Ordinance 102-O-20 amending portions of the City Code codifying the Reparations Committee. The new Reparations Committee expands the number of the members on the committee to include non-aldermanic members, along with updated roles and responsibilities that reflect the work being completed by the Reparations Subcommittee.
The Reparations Committee includes 5th Ward Councilmember Bobby Burns, 2nd Ward Councilmember Peter Braithwaite, Chair, 8th Ward Councilmember Devon Reid and residents Bonnie Lockhart, Claire McFarland Barber, Robin Rue Simmons and Carlis Sutton.
The Committee will work with residents, City staff and experts to explore and identify programs and opportunities to be supported by the Reparations Fund.
Information on the Reparations Committee, including members, meeting agendas, minutes, and meeting videos, is available via the Reparations Committee webpage.
The Reparations Subcommittee was dissolved in May 2021. Past meetings including videos, agenda, and minutes can be found here: Reparations Subcommittee webpage
Contribute to the City of Evanston’s Reparations Fund by making a financial donation.
In 2002, the City Council supported US House Resolution 40 (HR-40), calling for a Federal Commission to study slavery and its vestiges, and to make recommendations for reparations, with the adoption of Resolution 43-R-02, “Slave Reparations.”
In November 2019, the Evanston City Council adopted Resolution 126-R-19, “Establishing the City of Evanston Reparations Fund and the Reparations Subcommittee.” The resolution committed the first ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) of the City’s Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (3% on gross sales of cannabis) to fund local reparations for housing and economic development programs for Black Evanston residents.
In passing Resolution 58-R-19, “Commitment to End Structural Racism and Achieve Racial Equity”, In June 2019, the City of Evanston government recognizes that like most, if not all communities in the United States, the community and the government allowed and perpetuated racial disparities through the use of many regulatory and policy-oriented tools.
Equity and Empowerment Commission Reparations Recommendations - Wealth and Opportunity Gaps
Cannabis Arrests and Compliance Tickets
Reparations: Redressing Institutional Racism and Redlining
Financial Wellness Education Workshops
Local Reparations - Kamm Howard
Public Funding of Evanston's Local Reparations Program - Alderman Rainey
Videos
Restorative Housing Application Informational Session - Virtual Webinar
Reparations Subcommittee Virtual Town Hall - August 27, 2020
State of Housing in Black America
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