Equitable Zoning Reform Campaign
Goal 2: Encourage Housing Abundance
Strategy 2:
End Discriminatory Policies Based on Family Structure
End Discriminatory Policies Based on Family Structure
The practice of sharing housing has been a staple of human survival throughout our history. Despite this, Evanston's policies restrict this essential tool throughout its residential districts by limiting the number of "unrelated" people who can live in one housing unit to three.
This rule places inequitable restrictions on residents who have no choice other than to share housing if they wish to remain housed. This limitation is inherently discriminatory in nature, as the zoning code limits the number of unrelated people while providing no limitations on the number of related people. To provide said limitations, the City goes so far as to define what makes a "family."
This rule places inequitable restrictions on residents who have no choice other than to share housing if they wish to remain housed. This limitation is inherently discriminatory in nature, as the zoning code limits the number of unrelated people while providing no limitations on the number of related people. To provide said limitations, the City goes so far as to define what makes a "family."
Zoning Recommendations
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Treat related and unrelated people the same under the law. |
Allow families to define themselves by removing the definition of family from the zoning code. |
Base occupancy limits on safety instead of on the relationships among residents. |
These recommendations are supported by: Equitable Zoning Project Recommendation 5 , APA Guidance Permitted Use Policy 6
