Pennsylvania will offer free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction or other housing-related issues for the first time, thanks to a new budget that includes $2.5 million for a state Right to Counsel program.
The goal of this legal assistance program is to keep more tenants in their homes. Rick Krajewski, a Democratic state representative from Philadelphia, stated that being evicted increases the likelihood of facing eviction in the future, leading to “cycles of displacement and homelessness.”
The funding will be divided among a network of legal assistance programs and organizations, including Community Legal Services and Regional Housing Legal Services in Philadelphia.
While most landlords have legal representation when going to court, tenants generally do not, reflecting a disparity that housing advocates say tips the scales of justice against those who have the most to lose.
Adam Goldman, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, explained that, in the city, those facing evictions are disproportionately African American women.
“Having an attorney represent you in court can make a difference and help you avoid being crushed in what, in many cases, is an unjust eviction.”
The new program is available to households earning up to 125% of the federal poverty level, which, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, equates to $32,275 for a family of three and $39,000 for a family of four.
According to Census Bureau data, more than a million Pennsylvania residents live below the poverty line, with more than 300,000 of them living in Philadelphia.
A Program That Began as a Temporary Initiative
Now, Pennsylvania is one of six states in the country with Right to Counsel programs. About 17 cities, including Philadelphia, have one.
The Philadelphia Eviction Diversion Program was approved in November 2019 and now operates in five city ZIP codes: 19139 in the west, 19132 and 19121 in the north, 19134 in Kensington, and 19144 in Germantown.
This city program began as a temporary initiative to resolve issues and avoid a costly or prolonged court process. Three years later, it is having a lasting impact that few cities have seen.
The Eviction Diversion Program facilitates satisfactory and sustainable agreements between landlords and tenants through mediation or direct negotiation with support. The benefits of participating in this are:
- Tenants avoid an eviction lawsuit or judgment on their record that could prevent them from accessing quality housing in the future.
- Landlords save money by avoiding court fees and attorney expenses.
- The court reduces its workload, putting less pressure on the judicial system.
- Low-income tenants and landlords receive help.
- Landlords recover overdue rent and avoid vacancies and unit turnover costs.
Noticias Newswire
