Join the Law Center for Better Housing on April 30th for a continued conversation on the importance of eviction diversion programs in preventing homelessness from legal aid, public policy, and data analysis perspectives. Plus, hear directly from an LCBH renter about their determination to avoid eviction and remain stably housed.
Attend our hybrid 2025 Chicago Evictions Town Hall in person at The Chicago Community Trust, 33 S. State St., or virtually via Zoom, on April 30th, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. The panel will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run for one hour. Register above.
Meet our Moderator
Marisa Novara - As the Vice President of Community Impact for The Chicago Community Trust, Marisa Novara oversees the development and implementation of the Trust’s strategic initiatives, its policy agenda, and grant-making to reduce the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. She has more than 25 years of experience engaging with communities to create innovative programs that respond to their needs and drive policy change. Most recently, Marisa served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing.
Meet our Panelists
Michelle Gilbert - Michelle J. Gilbert became Legal and Policy Director at Law Center for Better Housing in the Fall of 2020. In that role, she is one of the primary drafters of the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance, has advocated regarding emergency rental assistance programs and eviction moratoria, helped create the eviction court Early Resolution Program, and manages the Chicago Right to Counsel Pilot Project. In 2021, she received the Chicago Bar Foundation Thomas Morsch Award for Public Service.
Christine Haley - Christine Haley is the Chief Homelessness Officer for the State of Illinois. She leads the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Christine works with 16 state agencies to implement a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, called Home Illinois. Christine chairs of the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and co-chairs the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. Before joining the State, Christine was the Director of Housing for Cook County Health (CCH).
Iván Arenas -Iván Arenas is a Senior Associate Director at the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago which supports engaged research that aims to increase society’s understanding of the root causes of racial and ethnic inequality and create research-based policy solutions and collective action. Trained as an anthropologist and architect, his research focuses on how social movements use creative art practices to establish solidarities beyond the state.
Join the Law Center for Better Housing on April 30th for a continued conversation on the importance of eviction diversion programs in preventing homelessness from legal aid, public policy, and data analysis perspectives. Plus, hear directly from an LCBH renter about their determination to avoid eviction and remain stably housed.
Attend our hybrid 2025 Chicago Evictions Town Hall in person at The Chicago Community Trust, 33 S. State St., or virtually via Zoom, on April 30th, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. The panel will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run for one hour. Register above.
Meet our Moderator
Marisa Novara - As the Vice President of Community Impact for The Chicago Community Trust, Marisa Novara oversees the development and implementation of the Trust’s strategic initiatives, its policy agenda, and grant-making to reduce the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. She has more than 25 years of experience engaging with communities to create innovative programs that respond to their needs and drive policy change. Most recently, Marisa served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing.
Meet our Panelists
Michelle Gilbert - Michelle J. Gilbert became Legal and Policy Director at Law Center for Better Housing in the Fall of 2020. In that role, she is one of the primary drafters of the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance, has advocated regarding emergency rental assistance programs and eviction moratoria, helped create the eviction court Early Resolution Program, and manages the Chicago Right to Counsel Pilot Project. In 2021, she received the Chicago Bar Foundation Thomas Morsch Award for Public Service.
Christine Haley - Christine Haley is the Chief Homelessness Officer for the State of Illinois. She leads the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Christine works with 16 state agencies to implement a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, called Home Illinois. Christine chairs of the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and co-chairs the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. Before joining the State, Christine was the Director of Housing for Cook County Health (CCH).
Iván Arenas -Iván Arenas is a Senior Associate Director at the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago which supports engaged research that aims to increase society’s understanding of the root causes of racial and ethnic inequality and create research-based policy solutions and collective action. Trained as an anthropologist and architect, his research focuses on how social movements use creative art practices to establish solidarities beyond the state.