title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN OPPOSITION OF EVICTION FILINGS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a severe economic impact that is placing housing stability at risk for residential tenants throughout Cook County and the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, on April 23, 2020, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued Illinois Executive Order 2020-30 which disallows persons or entities from commencing residential evictions pursuant to or arising under 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, the Order calls on all state, county, and local law enforcement officers in the State of Illinois to cease enforcement of orders of eviction for non-residential premises; and
WHEREAS, the Order excludes tenants who have been found to pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other tenants, are an immediate and severe risk to property, or a violation of any applicable building code, health ordinance, or similar regulation and also does not serve as a relief of the obligation to pay rent; and
WHEREAS, over 400 evictions have been filed in Cook County since this Executive Order was issued and it has become clear that there is extensive non-compliance with the Order, putting many Cook County residents in a precarious situation of housing instability and potential homelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners urges the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois to dismiss and seal all eviction filings that have been initiated during the pandemic, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Cook County Board of Commissioners encourages the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois to further require any property owners who commence an eviction filing pursuant to the Eviction Act (735 ILCS 5/9) to affirmatively state in the complaint or in a supporting affidavit evidencing that the filing has been initiated due to reasons associated with the exemptions in Executive Order 2020-30.
end