The city-funded hotline for Evanstonians with landlord-tenant issues has seen a slight decline in total calls in recent months and only a modest increase in calls about evictions and lease issues.
That was the report presented to the City Council this week by MTO representatives.
But with the statewide moratorium on evictions scheduled to expire Oct. 3, Philip DeVon, eviction prevention specialist with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, said he anticipates to be “very busy” in the near future.
The MTO, in cooperation with the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing has offered free assistance for tenants and landlords in Evanston under a city contract since 2018. The current $87,500 contract covers a 15-month period through the end of this year.
The MTO hotline at 773-292-4988 is staffed from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Evanston residents can also call the city’s 311 center to request assistance through the program.