Open Communities Email Format
Civic and Social OrganizationsIllinois, United States11-50 Employees
Open Communities is a civil rights organization focused on ending housing discrimination and the policies that perpetuate segregation and inequity. It advances inclusive communities through a mix of fair housing enforcement, housing counseling, education, outreach, and advocacy. The organization recognizes that housing influences access to employment, health, transportation, and education, and it seeks to dismantle systemic barriers to improve outcomes for marginalized residents. Based in Evanston, Illinois, Open Communities provides free housing counseling to prevent eviction and foreclosure while challenging discriminatory practices through education and advocacy. It aims to advance the economic empowerment of those most marginalized and to hold communities and institutions accountable for discriminatory policies. In 2021, Evanston Public Library partnered with Open Communities to launch Housing 101, a series of free workshops addressing legal and financial topics related to housing.