“It is imperative that the state legislature act to protect renters and homeowners during and after the pandemic,” said state Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago. “All governments must offer an immediate, proactive, and bold response to make sure everyone is safely housed during and after the pandemic.

Added state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, “We must act to not only flatten the curve healthwise but flatten the economic inequality that exists.”

Under a draft unveiled today—the proposal cannot be formally considered until the Legislature ends its COVID break and resumes session—anyone suffering “any negative financial, medical, or other impact, on an individual or household because of COVID-19 and associated governmental orders, including . . . loss of income, furlough, hour reduction or other interruption to employment due to workplace, school, and other facility closures; or increased household, childcare, health care or other expenses,” would be entitled to relief.

The relief would include a six-month cancellation of apartment rent, along with an across-the-board ban on rent increases. Homeowners would be able to defer their mortgage payments for the same period without fees and be offered an extended period later to catch up.

Consistent with that, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s current state moratorium on evictions would be extended 180 days longer for residential and small-business renters.

Also, although language has not yet been finalized, sponsors anticipate banning any penalties or tax sales for those who do not pay their residential property taxes.

Ramirez told me the bill also establishes a fund to be administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to help landlords for whom loss of rent payments is a particular hardship. Ramirez said she hopes portions of $100 billion in federal money appropriated for housing work will be available for that.

Even if that’s the case, the landlords who would get help in lieu of rent would have to demonstrate “material economic hardship,” defined as a loss of income so severe as “to limit spending on household necessities. Reduction in savings, profit margins, discretionary spending, or nonessential assets shall not constitute material economic hardship.”

Among groups who promptly endorsed the proposal were the Chicago Teachers Union, the Chicago Urban League, the Latino Policy Forum, the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing and the Shriver Center on Poverty Law.

The Chicago Association of Realtors had no immediate reaction.