Housing advocates make case for providing lawyers to renters facing eviction

Two new studies support calls from housing advocacy groups to provide free legal representation to renters facing eviction.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHENFIGHTING EVICTIONS.

WMA━NEWS MALLORY SOFASTAII TELLSUS WHY A NUMBER OF AGENCIESSAY THE CITY NEEDS TOIMPLEMENT PROTECTIONS NOW ..TO HELP FAMILIES REBOUND FROMCOVI━1úEVEN THOUGH THEREMORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS &HOUSING ADVOCATES AREEXPECTING A WAVE OF NEWFILINGS ONCE THE STATE OFEMERGENCY IS OVER.

AND THEYSAY WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY..

MANYRENTERS COULD LOSE THEHOMES.

MIRANDA RIGHTS MAKE ITCLEARAN ATTORNEY ONE WILL BEPROVIDED TO YOU..

BUT THAT'FOR CRIMINAL CASES..

IN RENTCOURT IN MARYLAND..

YOUYOUR OWN.

Tiffany 29:12 whenyou are a tenant you are atthe mercy of the landlord.ACCORDING TO A NEW STOUTANALYSISLANDLORDS HAVE LAWYERS INEVICTION CASES..

WHILE ONLY 1PERCENT OF TENANTS DO.

STOUTALSO FOUND THAT IF TENANTSWERE REPRESENTED..

92 PERCENTWOULD AVOID DISRUPTIVEDISPLACEMENTPEOPLE COULD AVOID EVICTION &TERRELL ASKEW POTENTIALLYBEING ONE OF THEM.

TerreAskew, Baltimore City 11:43 atthe age of 7 i was forced toconfront my familpoverty:07 THATFAMILY WAS KICKED OUT OF THEIRHOME DUE TO AN UNPAID UTILITBILL FROM A PREVIOUS TENANTTA: 12:07 It kind of felt libeing dropped in the deep endof a pool suddenly:06 A SECOREPORT BY DOCTOR TIMOTHYTHOMAS ALSO SHOWS WHO IS MOSIMPACTED BY EVICTIONS MollyAmster, Baltimore director,Jews United for Justice: 7:51Baltimoreone of the highest in thenation and black and brownresidents are impacted at amuch higher rate than theirwhite counterparts and thatwas before the pandemic:10 THERISING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ISONLY EXPECTED TO LEAD TO MOREEVICTIONS FURTHER JEOPARDIZINGTHE STATEWHY 20 ORGANIZERS, ADVOCATES,AND TENANT GROUPS ARE CALLINGFOR NEW RIGHT TO COUNSELLEGISLATION FOR LO━INCOMETENANTS.

AND WHILE THEYHAVENTHEY KNOW MONEY MAY BE AHURDLE Matt Hill, Attorney,Public Justice Center: 36:27stout study shows the city andthe state can save 35.6million with an investment of5.7 million in a right tocounsel for lo━incometenants:13 MATT HILL WITH THEPUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER SAID THECITY AND STATE COULD SEEMILLIONS IN SAVINGS FROMHOMELESS SHELTERS,TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, FOSTERCARE, TRANSPORTATION, ANDMEDICAL.

NOT INCLUDING THECOST OF TRAUMA& TA: 13:38 Ipray that it actually passesmainly because I donanyone to experience the kindof things I haveexperienced:10 RIGHT TOCOUNSEL LEGISLATION HAS PASSEDIN 7 STATES AND MULTIPLECITIES INCLUDING NEW YORK CITYPERCENT DROP IN EVICTIONS.SEVERAL MARYLAND LAWMAKERSWERE ON THE CALL TODAY ANDSAID THEY SUPPORT TINITIATIVE.LAST WEEKCOUNCIL APPROVED LEGISLATIONPROHIBITING LANDLORDS FROMRAISING RENT DURING THEPANDEMIC AND UP TO THREEMONTHS AFTER THE STATE OFEMERGENCY IS LIFTED.

LANDLORDSALSO ARENLATE FEES DURING THAT TIMEPE