Posted October 5, 202112:33 pm
In September, WZAK DJ Sam Sylk featured Legal Aid attorney Anastasia Elder and Julie Wisenski of United Way of Greater Cleveland to discuss Free Eviction Help, a collaborative effort between Legal Aid and United Way.
Free Eviction Help provides free legal representation to tenants facing eviction.
The program has already helped many people in our region stay in their current housing or find new living accommodations. Another benefit is that children can remain in school without worrying about disruptions caused by displacement and homelessness.
People who contact Free Eviction Help may also qualify for Cleveland’s Right to Counsel (RTC) program, which applies to households with at least one child and an income at or below the federal poverty guideline. Through RTC, eligible tenants now have the explicit legal right to free legal representation in their eviction cases.
94% of cases that have come to Legal Aid through RTC have avoided evictions.
“We can help facilitate communication between the tenant and their landlord,” said Anastasia. “Whether that means seeking rent assistance and connecting clients with these resources or getting repairs [to the unit] done while the case is pending.”
Resources are also available through United Way’s 211 and the Cleveland Housing Network (CHN) Housing Partners Family Stability Initiative. CHN provides assistance with eviction cases, helps homeowners avoid foreclosure, and assists with paying utilities.
To find out if you qualify for help, contact Legal Aid at 216-861-5835 or apply via 2-1-1 chat box/phone number. You can also learn more about your rights and apply for help online at www.FreeEvictionHelp.org