Evanston City Council votes in favor of expanding its reparations program to repair housing discrimination

CNN — As a child, Robin Rue Simmons didn’t know the Evanston neighborhood she called home was an area where Black families were once forced to live. Under Rue Simmons’ leadership, Evanston became the first city in the United States to pass a reparations resolution in 2019 for Black residents who qualified. “It is a $25,000 direct benefit to build wealth through home equity,” Rue Simmons said. “In the case of Evanston …we have been led to understand and appreciate that home rule taxes are our most viable way to fund reparations being that they’re within our purview.” Some grant recipients hesitant about cash option Ramona Burton is among the 14 people who have received the $25,000 grant so far. “We’re looking to either build another house or add on to our garage.” Holmes-Ross expressed some hesitation about the cash option and said there must be checks and balances.