Philly renters guaranteed lawyers in eviction court under new City Council bill

If Philadelphia Councilwoman Helen Gym has her way, many more renters facing eviction will be represented by a lawyer when they have their day in court.

News Story (Pennsylvania)

Jake Blumgart
WHYY (PA)
May 9, 2019
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Tags: Civil Right to Counsel, Housing: Eviction


DETAILS

The issue of eviction has received increasing attention in recent years, as stagnant incomes and spiking housing costs have created a crisis for families across the country. Federal subsidies for housing, meanwhile, have also stagnated. Only 25% of Americans who are eligible for housing assistance receive it.

Unlike in criminal court, those who face eviction are not guaranteed representation. As a result, the overwhelming majority of tenants — most of whom have low incomes — do not have legal representation while the great majority of landlords do.