Moving Forward with Confidence: How Free Legal Support Aided EastLake Tenants Union's Fight for Safe Housing

Shanna Landheart had a bold vision for expanding the EastLake Tenants Union (ELTU). But as the organization prepared to grow, she found herself facing a hurdle familiar to many grassroots leaders: the nervousness and uncertainty of navigating complex legal hurdles.

“It was like, ‘What are we going to do? What do we need? Are we ready?’” said Landheart, who became CEO of the organization in 2021.

ELTU works to upgrade life in all EastLake-owned buildings by empowering individuals with knowledge of their rights, rallying everyone to push for better conditions, and getting tenants to take the reins on their homes through collective cooperative ownership. Initially, ELTU focused on organizing tenants in low-income, subsidized housing developments. Over the last year, the organization has expanded its outreach and organizing efforts to support tenants living in abandoned buildings.

To navigate that growth, Landheart was referred to Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.

“Because we were expanding and stepping into new territory, we first needed assistance with our organizational bylaws and other policies,” Landheart said. “We were like, ‘Who is a law firm for nonprofits and an affordable one?’ And everybody was like: Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.”

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee provides free legal assistance to nonprofits and small businesses in historically disinvested communities because we know how critical this type of assistance is to their success, to addressing wealth inequality and to ensuring organizations like ELTU can continue providing and expanding essential services without facing legal risks down the road.

Landheart worked closely with Amy Cook, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee’s Director of Economic Justice, to review and solidify the organization’s bylaws. ELTU is now in the process of acquiring its first property; Chicago Lawyers’ Committee referred them to a partner law firm that took on the transaction pro bono.

Landheart praised the swift, reliable communication and eagerness to help small nonprofits get the services and support they need.

“To have an organization like Chicago Lawyers’ Committee to be able to assist us and point us in the right direction and give us that legal support — it’s invaluable,” Landheart said.

Are you a nonprofit leader or small business owner seeking free legal assistance? Click here to learn more about CLC’s nonprofit and small business legal support.