Report finds financial returns on funding lawyers for tenants threatened with eviction

Evictions rates are high across the country but Philadelphia's is 1.5 times the national average. The Philadelphia Bar Association has a proposal they think will help and save the city some money.

News Story (Pennsylvania)

Pat Loeb
KYW (local CBS, Philadelphia)
November 13, 2018
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Tags: Funding: State & Local, Housing: Eviction


DETAILS

If the city put $3.5 million into lawyers for tenants faced with eviction, the results for tenants would be so much better that the city would save $45 million it’s now spending on the shelter system and other services it provides to people after they’re evicted, the study concludes.

“Our report and analysis, I think, clearly demonstrate that it’s a very wise investment for the City of Philadelphia to consider expanding representation, perhaps even a right to counsel for eviction cases, which other cities are exploring and have enacted in some cases,” said Steinkamp.