Madigan pledges foreclosure settlement cash to help renters

The Illinois Attorney General's office said it would give almost $1.4 million over three years to the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing to help provide legal assistance to renters.

With the capital infusion, the group plans to expand its Tenants in Foreclosure Intervention Project.

The funds will come from the state's portion of the $25 billion national mortgage foreclosure settlement announced in February with the five largest mortgage servicers. The attorney general's office received $20 million of the national settlement, aside from the funds going directly to consumers, which Attorney General Lisa Madigan has said would be used for legal aid services. 

Madigan's office said it continues to review grant proposals from other groups.