On November 25, 2019, the City Council voted 8–1 to commit the first ten million dollars over the next ten years of the city's Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (3% on gross sales of cannabis) to fund a local reparations program with the intention to focus on housing and the wealth gap for Black residents suffered from
redlining in Evanston. The first program to spend money out of fund was approved, with another 8–1 vote, on March 22, 2021, was the "Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program" targeted for housing and economic development programs for Black Evanston residents and build the wealth of Black residents. It was the first such government funded program in America. Qualifying homes were granted up to $25,000 for down payments or home repairs. To qualify for the program, Black Americans must either have lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969 or be a direct descendant of someone who did. The program had the endorsement of the
National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America and the
National African American Reparations Commission. ==Impact==