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Since the Massachusetts eviction moratorium ended in October 2020, over 40,000 evictions have been filed.
For decades there has been an extreme imbalance of legal representation. In FY 2021, 86.5% of landlords had representation, while only 10.5% of tenants had representation. Most evictions happen very quickly. Many tenants do not know how to protect themselves in court. And for too many people, an eviction means homelessness. |
We can change this.
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Trauma of Eviction
Evictions can be devastating. They cause depression and illness, spiral into job loss, send people into shelters, and are uprooting entire neighborhoods. A court eviction also results in a permanent "eviction record" which can unfairly affect someone's ability to find an apartment. Who Is Facing Eviction Research, women, families of color, and households with children face eviction in disproportionate numbers. With rents on the rise, more households are just one step away from eviction. Tenants Are Vulnerable In 2021, 89.5% of tenants who faced eviction were unrepresented. When people come to court they are scared. The stakes are high. The eviction process moves quickly. And despite the efforts of judges and court staff, the high number of tenants without lawyers creates a process that can be unbalanced and unfair. Assistance Makes a Difference Legal help and access to the right resources before a court eviction can prevent families from homelessness, prevent illegal or unnecessary evictions, prevent displacement, and create a path to housing stability. |
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Support a right to counsel for low income people
facing the loss of their homes
facing the loss of their homes