First 16 black Evanston residents chosen for housing reparations

Illinois is first to offer reparations to African-American families

Evanston, Illinois has beautiful scenery, including Northwestern University (pictured here). (Photo credit: Hao Chen/Unsplash)

Evanston’s Reparations Committee kept its word on continuing to review 122 applicants who qualified as “ancestors” for the Illinois town’s Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program. This month, WTTW reports that Evanston, Illinois has finally chosen its first group of 16 Black residents to receive reparations.

The program is reportedly set to distribute $10 million over 10 years using tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales. The $25K housing benefits can be used for several housing options—a down payment on a home, home repairs, or to cover interest and late penalties.