Philly City Council gets bill that would guarantee right to lawyer for tenants facing eviction

Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym plans to introduce a bill Thursday that would expand legal representation for tenants facing eviction.

News Story (Pennsylvania)

Pat Loeb
KYW (local CBS, Philadelphia)
May 8, 2019
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Tags: Housing: Eviction, Housing: Right to Counsel

Organizations mentioned/involved: Community Legal Services (CLS) of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Bar Association


DETAILS

Still, Community Legal Services attorney Rasheeda Philips says the so-called “right to counsel” bill is necessary because there’s more to do.

“There’s still a significant number of people facing homelessness, and gentrification is a very real thing in our community where rents continue to rise and people are being displaced,” Philips said.

The city put $800,000 into the fund.

The Mayor has proposed cutting that to $500,000, but Gym’s bill would increase the amount to about $1.5 million.

The Bar Association has estimated that a $3.5 million fund would end up saving $45 million.