CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An effort is underway in DuPage County to try to settle disputes between landlords and tenants in order to avoid evictions.When evictions court reopens in DuPage County, Judge James McCluskey is concerned about a spike in eviction cases, due to people losing jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and non-payment of rent.
He is asking the DuPage County Bar Association to put together a program that would allow for volunteer lawyers to advise tenants of the rights. He's also asking landlords to take part in settlement conferences.
Judge McClusky said the system could become overburdened ,because if people are evicted then social services has to step in.
"The social service in DuPage County are doing a great job, but they can only place so many people in alternative housing. This is why I am asking landlords in this very, very unusual time to work with me and allow people to stay in their premises, so that they will get their rent, maybe they won't get it exactly in the way and on time they way they would like it, but they will get paid.
