For decades, Cook County’s tax sale and scavenger sale systems have stripped families of their homes and the hard-earned equity they built in them. Under this process, when homeowners fell behind on property taxes—sometimes just a few thousand dollars—private investors could buy the delinquent taxes and eventually take full ownership of the property, wiping out all remaining equity – the market value of the home above what was owed for taxes. On December 9, a federal judge ruled this aspect of the system unconstitutional, declaring that Cook County’s tax sale structure violated homeowners’ constitutional rights. The case will have further proceedings and is not yet final, and of course there could be an appeal. But this ruling is a major milestone towards victory for the thousands of families harmed by the practice and for the community organizations who fought to bring the truth to light: the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), Palenque LSNA, and their lawyers at Legal Action Chicago.

The catalyst for SWOP’s involvement wasn’t a policy briefing or an abstract legal argument—it came from the neighborhood itself. Organizers kept hearing the same painful stories from residents who had lost their homes and home equity through tax sales, and the data confirmed what the community already knew: Chicago Lawn was one of the most heavily impacted neighborhoods. Families were being uprooted, generational wealth was being erased, and investor-owned vacant buildings were multiplying across blocks that were once stable and thriving. Legal Action Chicago engaged with SWOP seeking a community-rooted strategy to confront the issue. SWOP brought the proposal for a class action lawsuit to member institutions and leaders, and the response was clear—this fight was necessary.

SWOP formally joined the lawsuit in 2022. Though SWOP typically does not engage in litigation, this was a unique situation where community needs outweighed precedent. Leaders saw firsthand that the tax sale system wasn’t just a flawed policy—it was a systemic harm reshaping and draining wealth from the neighborhood. The deeper organizers looked, the clearer it became that tax sales were hollowing out communities. Homes were being lost not because families didn’t care, but because a predatory system was designed to take equity, transfer control to outside investors, and leave empty properties behind. These conditions forced residents to shoulder the burden of instability while investors gained power over what happened on their blocks.

In the ruling the judge affirmed the role of SWOP and Palenque LSNA as proper plaintiffs in the case, acknowledging the work and resources both organizations have been devoting to helping community members avoid this loss of their home equity. The judge’s ruling marks a historic

step forward, but the full impact remains ahead. There are still major questions to resolve in the case itself and in the larger public policy arena: How will past losses be addressed for families who unfairly lost their equity? What reforms will replace the unconstitutional system? How will this connect to the broader property tax burdens already affecting Southwest Side families? While the decision validates years of organizing and advocacy, SWOP and its partners know this is only the beginning of the work required to repair the harm and prevent future displacement.

This fight also connected directly to SWOP’s broader organizing campaigns. One of SWOP’s organizers, Carlos Pittman, spent significant time hearing from seniors—a population that was extremely vulnerable to the tax sale system and the least informed about the risks. For SWOP, addressing scavenger sales was never just about fixing vacant buildings after the fact. It was about keeping homes occupied, protecting wealth that families spent generations building, and ensuring that community members—not investors—have power over what happens in their own neighborhood.

The federal ruling is an important step towards a monumental win for the Southwest Sideand it was won because residents, organizers, and partner organizations refused to accept a system that took homes and erased equity. SWOP, Palenque LSNA, and Legal Action Chicago stood with the community, brought their voices into the courtroom, and ensured those most affected were finally heard. And as the next phase of this fight unfolds, these partners remain committed to ensuring that families who call this community home are protected, respected, and centered in whatever comes next.

‍