As the world inches towards a post-pandemic reality, Cook County's housing landscape echoes the call. Nearly 12,000 evictions have been ordered by the courts in 2023, mirroring figures seen before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the economy and pushed many into housing insecurity. According to an annual report released by Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, the rise in evictions coincides with the end of eviction moratoriums and rent subsidies that once offered a lifeline to tenants in distress.
Sheriff Dart's team has not stood by idly; the specialized Sheriff’s Assistance for Evictions unit, or SAFE, stepped up quickly to assist those vulnerable tenants who were at risk of significantly falling through the cracks. "I’ve always felt that we could do better than throwing the most vulnerable among us out on the street when they can’t make the rent," Sheriff Dart stated. His dedication to helping those facing eviction is matched by efficient processes to return housing providers their possession rights.
The annual report doesn't shy away from the hard truths, highlighting the disproportionate impact evictions have on minority communities—a persistent blight on our society's claim to equitable treatment under the law. But it's not just grim statistics; the Sheriff's Office is innovating with an automated notification system intended to streamline the eviction process for housing providers, making sure updates on pending evictions are mere clicks away.
Now, housing providers electing to E-file for eviction on the Sheriff's Office website have the opportunity to quickly receive automated notifications via text, email, or phone. It's one small step in the face of a larger systemic issue, allowing plaintiffs to upload necessary documents and request enforcement without having to physically stand in line. For added convenience, Sheriff’s Office service fees can be paid online—a nod perhaps, to a system trying to find efficiency amidst the turmoil.
For residents caught in the tangle of eviction, the SAFE staff is reachable at (312)-603-3337, a beacon for those seeking support. The new reality of Cook County is one of the dualities—eviction numbers returning to pre-pandemic normals and a Sheriff’s Office resolute on threading the needle of justice with compassion.
