Posted February 22, 20243:18 pm
From Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023, 4,519 Cleveland residents were assisted in 1,234 eviction Right to Counsel cases United Way of Cleveland and The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland found in their independent evaluation of the success of Right to Counsel, according to a news release.
Eighty-one percent of the people helped through the program avoided eviction or an involuntary move, the release stated.
“For Legal Aid, we envision communities where all people experience dignity and justice, free from poverty and oppression,” Colleen Cotter, executive director of Legal Aid, said in the release. “Our leadership in the national Right to Counsel movement represents the bold steps that drive progress and allow us to envision a brighter future. This new evaluation highlights how our public-private partnership continues to create great outcomes for individuals and the community.”
It’s estimated that The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland represented between 60% and 80% of household eligible for Right to Counsel, the release stated. Prior to the program, only 2% to 3% of all tenants had representation, according to the release.
For more information, visit FreeEvictionHelpResults.org.
Source: Cleveland Jewish News - Right to Counsel assists over 4,500 Clevelanders