| CRIME FREE HOUSING
This area is for the Chicago Heights Crime Free Multi-Housing Program seminar schedule. There will be seminar dates, times and locations listed here. After selecting a training date, please contact Officer Woodrow Stacey at 708-756-6333 or wstacey@chicagoheights.net to confirm and reserve a spot in that training. People who show up without reservation WILL be allowed to attend the training, based ONLY on available room. All classes are held at City Hall (1601 S Chicago Road), in the lower level.
If you wish to register via email we need the following information:
Name
Class date
Mailing address
Property address(es)
Phone #
You will be mailed a registration confirmation
February
February 20, 2012 - Wednesday ...8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
*Class attendees MUST be preregistered 708-756-6333 or wstacey@chicagoheights.net
Please be sure to bring a photo ID.
If you have acceptable certification by another town you are not required to attend the crime free class however you must contact Officer Stacey at 708-756-6333 to make an appointment for reviewal of your out of town certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I only have one unit. Why does the ordinance apply to me?
Laws regarding rental properties and eviction proceedings can be
complicated. Most small property owners operate their rental unit as an
investment and may not have the background, information, or experience
that would assist them in preventing or dealing with problems on their
property. The village has had several cases related to rental condos or
rental single-family homes where drug sales, criminal gang activity
(including drive-by shootings) and severe nuisance problems that
adversely impacted the quality of life in the neighborhood have
occurred, and the property owner was unaware or unable to quickly or
effectively resolve the matter. One has no way of knowing if the next
renter will become a nightmare for you and the community. The Crime Free
Housing program can help you be prepared to prevent problems or be ready
to quickly and effectively deal with problems should they occur.
2. Why is the seminar 6 hours long and what will I learn?
The Crime Free Multi-Housing program was developed in 1992 by the Mesa,
Arizona Police Department. Over 1700 communities in 44 states and 4
Canadian provinces have been trained in Crime Free Housing. The
information contained in the seminar is a compilation of experience and
proven methods from professional rental property managers, lawyers, and
police officers. Seminar topics include:
- Explanation of the City of Chicago Heights residential rental ordinance
- Overview of community policing and city resources available to assist you
- Explanation of the Crime Free Lease Addendum with a sample provided
- Crime Prevention and Risk Management
- CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) overview
- Applicant Screening
- Active Property Management and working with the police department
- An Attorney discussing leases and evictions issues
- A workbook and additional valuable handouts and resource information
3. It is difficult for me to attend one whole session for 6 hours.
In an effort to provide the rental property owner, agent (manager), or
the owner’s designee, an opportunity to attend the seminar with the
least amount of difficulty, we are offering several sessions monthly.
Seminars are scheduled on weekdays, Saturdays, and split over two
evenings. If it is absolutely impossible to attend 6 straight hours, you
may contact Officer Tim Agee 708-756-6333 to arrange to attend half the
seminar on day and the final half on another date. Please keep in mind
that a training completion certificate is required before your rental
license will be issued by the city.
4. I live out of state. Do I have to attend?
Not necessarily. If you live out of state, you undoubtedly have a local
individual that handles matters for you related to the rental property.
With this in mind, the ordinance does state the rental property owner OR
agent (manager), OR the owner’s designee shall attend a Crime Free
Housing seminar. (See #5 for further information)
5. I own more than one unit in the city. How many seminars do I need
to attend?
You (or your agent or designee) need to attend only one seminar
regardless of the number of rental units that you own or operate in the
city as long the agent or designee remains in this position. Any new
agent or designee is required to attend the training seminar.
6. Does the ordinance require a criminal background check for rental
applicants?
No. Thorough applicant screening is strongly recommended and discussed
in the seminar. However, the ordinance does not require criminal
background checks.
7. Does the ordinance require me to evict a tenant for one criminal
incident?
Maybe. The ordinance does require the use of a Crime Free Lease
Addendum or similar wording in the body of the lease that makes criminal
activity a cause for eviction. The ordinance may require an eviction
based on criminal activity, depending on the severity of the criminal
offense. The ordinance provides the rental property owner the tool and
ability to deal with a problem if they choose or need to.
The Crime Free Lease Addendum was developed by HUD and is used in
section 8 leases utilized by housing authorities. Evictions based on
this concept were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 (see Oakland
Housing Authority v. Rucker and Department of Housing and Urban
Development v. Rucker).
8. Doesn't the ordinance promote discrimination or profiling?
No. The Federal Fair Housing Act, which is discussed during the seminar
and contained in the workbook, has seven protected classes. The seven
protected classes relate to a persons race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, familial status or handicap (disability). A person’s
behavior is not a protected class. The ordinance is intended to deal
with criminal or excessive nuisance behavior that is impacting the
health, safety, or quality of life of a neighborhood, regardless of the
tenant’s race, ethnic background, or income status. Would you like to
live next to a drug dealer, gang member, or renter that has loud and
drunken parties every weekend?
9. Can I be held responsible for the actions of my tenant?
Yes.
10. Will my rental license be suspended or revoked any time a crime
happens?
No. With the number of rental licenses for condos, apartments, single
family homes, and townhouses in the City of Chicago Heights , it is not
possible to track every single incident. However, the units that become
excessive in nature by virtue of the type of criminal activity or amount
of nuisance activity (as noted in the ordinance) that impacts the
quality of life of a neighborhood will be notified. The owners who
actively work with the police department in an attempt to resolve the
problem should have no concern. The city will not automatically suspend
or revoke a rental license for a property that meets the nuisance
standard. The Mayor, upon specific recommendation, may review the
situation and may suspend or recommend revocation for a small percentage
of rental property owners who fail to attempt to resolve problems on
their property
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