Avelar Advances Bill Protecting Children from Improper Eviction Cases

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, is working to protect young people from the abusive practice of landlords dragging children into eviction cases. Avelar advanced legislation stopping landlords from suing children along with their parents or guardians, pushing back on an alarming new trend that can affect a young person’s future ability to obtain housing. 

“I’ve heard from legal aid organizations that they’ve seen multiple cases with children under the age of 10 named in an eviction lawsuit; this practice has long-term and devastating consequences, as the record of these unjust and misguided cases can follow these children for the rest of their lives,” said Avelar. “My bill recognizes the simple fact that no child should be denied the right to safe, secure housing for no fault of their own.” 

Avelar passed House Bill 3566 through the Housing Committee, ensuring that an eviction complaint can be dismissed if a minor is named as a defendant, or if the person was a minor when the complaint was filed. Because evictions remain on tenant screening reports, public records, and background checks even if the minor was never responsible for the lease, this bill mitigates the likeliness of future housing instability, negative credit reporting and potential homelessness when the minor becomes an adult. 

“Landlords are naming minors in eviction complaints despite the fact that minors are not legally responsible for their housing,” said Avelar. “By advocating to put a law in the books that prohibits the damaging effects of naming minors in eviction cases, we alleviate the negative implications that stick around for these individuals once they become an adult.”