The City of Evanston Reaches Milestone: Distributes Over $1 Million in Reparations Funding

EVANSTON, IL - The City of Evanston's Reparations Committee has announced a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to address historical injustices for the Black community. To date, the City has disbursed $1,092,924 in reparations funds through the Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program. An additional $439,397 is pending disbursement for mortgage assistance and/or construction and remodeling projects.

The Reparations Committee, in partnership with City staff, has met with 76 out of 140 verified Ancestor reparations recipients. Of those, 17 recipients have requested additional time for benefit selection. The program prioritizes Ancestor recipients for initial reparations fund distribution, emphasizing acknowledgment of past grievances and restorative justice.

About the Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program

The Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program acknowledges historical harm to Black residents from past discriminatory housing policies by the City. It aims to rectify these injustices by striving to promote homeownership preservation, stability, and growth for intergenerational equity in the Black community. Applications for the program were open from September 21 to November 5, 2021.

Honoring Beneficiaries

To honor reparations beneficiaries, the City is hosting a series of special thank you and acknowledgment dinners. The second dinner is scheduled for Friday, August 25.

Supporting the Program

Those interested in sponsoring recipient acknowledgment dinners should email [email protected]. Those wishing to contribute financially to the Reparations Fund through donations may do so online.

For more information about the City’s Reparations Initiative, visit cityofevanston.org/reparations or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.