Erie Family Health Center November 7, 2012 Preventing Negative Health Outcomes from Illegal Eviction 1

How does eviction affect your patients? Physical Exacerbate or create new medical conditions Delay recuperation and rehab Homelessness Mental Continuous Stress Emotional instability Crisis Financial Unable to meet rent Pressure to ignore financial medical obligations Legal repercussions 2

Health Symptoms and Illegal Eviction Increased stress and anxiety due to fear of homelessness and retaliation from a landlord Continued medical issues as a result of an environment problem in the home (bugs, lack of water, lack of heat, etc. ) Inability to recover from health conditions Aggravated symptoms of chronic health conditions 3

Definition of Illegal Eviction Landlords may not do anything to interrupt a patient’s tenancy without a court order Tenants should know that an illegal eviction by their landlord is a criminal offense and as tenants, they have rights under Illinois law to prevent or remedy these actions. 4

Examples of Illegal Eviction Breaking down a door to enter Changing the locks Blocking access to the premises Removing property that belongs to the tenant without their permission Cutting off heat/electricity/water Failure to remedy a bug/rodent infestation Threatened or actual injury to the tenant or the tenant’s property 5

Tenants’ Rights Victims of illegal evictions are entitled to recover possession of the unit and of their belongings. File a complaint with the Chicago Police Department. Police are required to investigate all complaints of illegal eviction In a civil legal proceeding, a court can award possession and damages to the patient 6

Patient Screening Questions Is the patient facing ongoing poor housing conditions? Does the patient’s apartment have functioning heat? Does the patient’s apartment have running water? Are there functioning appliances? Does the patient feel safe in his/her housing? Has the patient been threatened by the landlord, property manager, or anyone connected with the property? 7

Review – What can you do? Identify and screen your patients for symptoms of illegal evictions Document any negative health effects For potential illegal evictions, refer to HJP Use the Internal Referral System via EMR or Contact Us: (Toll Free) (Local) (Fax)

“In the Health Justice Project, doctors, social workers, lawyers and students of each profession are partnering to address the social and environmental causes — like unhealthy housing conditions and improperly denied food stamps — at the root of poor health.” Emily A. Benfer, clinical professor of law, director of the Health Justice Project, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Beazley Institute for Health Law & Policy Chicago Tribune, October 5, 2011 Health Justice Project 9