Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity, Author at Injustice Watch

Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity

Emeline Posner is a journalist with the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, covering housing, immigration and policing through an equity lens. Previously they worked as an intern with the Illinois Answers Project and as a freelance reporter covering local news. They are a recent graduate of the master's program at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and live on the South Side.

The Illinois state capitol in Springfield

Taken by Taxes

Illinois tax sales get an overhaul, but how much will homeowners benefit?

State legislators passed historic reforms to Illinois’ controversial tax sales, which had led to thousands losing their homes and all of their home equity.

by Carlos Ballesteros and Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity June 5, 2026June 4, 2026

A photo of the Illinois State Capitol Building at 401 S. 2nd St. in Springfield, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023.

Taken by Taxes

Steps Illinois lawmakers could take to reform the state’s tax sale laws

Efforts in other states offer road maps for improving outcomes for homeowners and addressing the harms of tax foreclosure as the General Assembly considers several reform bills.

by Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity March 26, 2026March 25, 2026

A woman stands in front of a brown brick house she lost through tax foreclosure, her arm resting on a sign with the address and her last name: Croff.

Taken by Taxes

Cook County allows tax foreclosures by municipalities. Poor oversight led to misuse by local officials.

Officials were able to use the county’s revitalization program for personal and political gain, neglected seized properties, and stripped homeowners of equity they had built up in their properties.

by Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Housing

Property-tax foreclosure reform gets put off by Illinois legislators

Lawmakers said they again will consider the issue later this year. Meanwhile, Cook County will postpone its 2025 tax sale because of concerns over homeowners who fall behind on property taxes losing their homes and equity.

by Carlos Ballesteros and Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity June 6, 2025March 12, 2026

Taken by Taxes

Illinois is the last state to unlawfully strip wealth from homeowners caught in tax foreclosure

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled unconstitutional a decades-old practice of taking every cent of people’s home equity over unpaid property taxes. Experts say Illinois lags behind the nation by continuing the racist policy mostly impacting Black communities.

by Carlos Ballesteros and Emeline Posner, Investigative Project on Race and Equity May 16, 2025January 14, 2026

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