Evanston Hands Out $25K Reparations Payments to 44 Black Residents

Illinois city's first-in-the-nation municipal reparations program issues direct cash payments to address past housing discrimination.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The city of Evanston, Illinois has announced it will issue $25,000 reparations payments to 44 Black residents as part of its groundbreaking municipal reparations program. Established in 2019 and approved by the City Council in 2021, the program is intended to provide direct cash payments to Black residents and descendants who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969 to address past housing discrimination.

Why it matters

Evanston's reparations program is the first of its kind in the United States, setting a precedent for other municipalities to follow in addressing the legacy of slavery and systemic racism. The payments are intended to help make amends for the city's history of housing discrimination against Black residents, an issue that has had long-lasting impacts on wealth and opportunity.

The details

The reparations payments will be funded through Evanston's real estate transfer tax, which has generated $276,588 for the program so far. The city is also exploring additional revenue sources, such as a tax on Delta-8 THC products, to sustain the $10 million, 10-year reparations fund. While the initial round of payments will go to 44 residents, the program aims to eventually reach hundreds more who qualify.

  • Evanston's reparations program was established in 2019 and approved by the City Council in 2021.
  • The first round of $25,000 payments will be issued to 44 residents in the coming weeks.

The players

Evanston Reparations Committee

The committee responsible for overseeing Evanston's municipal reparations program, which is the first of its kind in the United States.

Cynthia Vargas

An Evanston official who stated the reparations payments are intended to cover housing expenses for eligible Black residents and descendants.

Tasheik Kerr

The assistant to the Evanston city manager, who announced that the first 44 residents will be contacted to receive their $25,000 payments.

Ald. Krissie Harris

An Evanston alderman who recognized that the city's tax on Delta-8 THC products would not significantly increase revenue for the reparations fund, but would "help keep moving that number forward" in the reparations process.

Judicial Watch

A conservative watchdog group that filed a lawsuit against Evanston's reparations program, alleging that its use of race as an eligibility requirement violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

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What they’re saying

“It's really important for people to understand we pay as we have the money, and it's not that we're withholding from paying everyone. It's just we have to accumulate the funds to make sure we can pay.”

— Ald. Krissie Harris, Evanston Alderman (The Daily Northwestern)

“To date, Evanston has awarded over $6,350,000 to 254 individuals based on their race. The city must be stopped before it spends even more money on this clearly discriminatory and unconstitutional reparations program.”

— Tom Fitton, President, Judicial Watch (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

Judicial Watch's lawsuit against Evanston's reparations program is ongoing, with the watchdog group alleging the program's use of race as an eligibility requirement is unconstitutional. The city will continue to issue $25,000 payments to eligible Black residents and descendants as it accumulates funds from sources like the real estate transfer tax and potential Delta-8 THC tax.

The takeaway

Evanston's groundbreaking reparations program represents a significant step forward in addressing the legacy of slavery and systemic racism at the municipal level. While the program faces legal challenges, it has inspired similar efforts in other cities and states, underscoring the growing momentum for reparations initiatives across the United States.