Over 22,000 households in Massachusetts were served with eviction papers in 2020, despite an eviction moratorium being in place for over 6 months out of this year.
91.5% of these tenants were forced to fight their eviction without help from an attorney and without help when they first received an eviction notice.
Most evictions happen very quickly. Many tenants do not know how to protect themselves both before court and in court. And for too many people, an eviction means homelessness.
We can change this.
91.5% of these tenants were forced to fight their eviction without help from an attorney and without help when they first received an eviction notice.
Most evictions happen very quickly. Many tenants do not know how to protect themselves both before court and in court. And for too many people, an eviction means homelessness.
We can change this.
Over 90% of tenants facing eviction are unrepresentedWith rents on the rise, more households are just one step away from eviction.
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 an permanent "eviction record" which can unfairly affect someone's ability to find an apartment. Who Is Facing Eviction Step into any Housing or District Court and you will see who is facing eviction in your community. According to research, women, families of color, and households with children face eviction in disproportionate numbers. Unrepresented Tenants Are Vulnerable In 2020, 91.5% 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 Can Make 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. Support a right to counsel for low income people facing the loss of their homes
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