Lawyers Advocate For Safe Housing

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland relies on the commitment and expertise of volunteers to assist its many clients. Each year, approximately 20% of the people helped by Legal Aid are assisted by a pro bono attorney. These volunteers help in civil legal matters related to housing, education, family, work, and more. Without the support of volunteers, Legal Aid would not be able to help the many people in our community who need it the most.

Volunteers like Emily Viscomi help to ensure that justice is within reach for those who are most vulnerable. Emily, an attorney with Dreyfuss Williams, first learned about Legal Aid from her Managing Partner when he received an email from Legal Aid looking for volunteers for a tenant eviction case. When asked to join him, Emily agreed.

The housing case involved Alexis (name changed to protect privacy). Alexis was shocked to find a 3-day notice for eviction on her door. She had always diligently paid her rent on time. Like clockwork, each month she would go to Western Union to purchase a money order to use to pay her rent.

Thinking the eviction notice was a mistake and wanting to rectify the problem, Alexis asked her landlord if they could meet to discuss the matter – her landlord failed to show up for the meeting.

Alexis was determined to prove that she had made her rental payments without fail. She requested that Western Union start an investigation into who cashed her money orders.

Alexis took another step, attending a Legal Aid Brief Advice Clinic to speak with an attorney for advice. After reviewing her situation and determining she was eligible for assistance, Alexis was connected with Emily through Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Emily got right to work to help Alexis. After receiving documentation from Western Union proving that Alexis had made her rental payments, Emily was able to get the eviction dismissed. Thanks to Emily’s counsel, Alexis avoided eviction and was able to remain in her home.

No one would have guessed this was Emily’s first housing case, and Legal Aid staff supported her through the entire process. This allowed her to learn about housing court and how to best advocate for Alexis. Emily then volunteered to take on more cases.

“My experience volunteering with Legal Aid was enriching,” said Emily. “We were able to help someone with their wrongful eviction and have the case dismissed. Along the way, Attorney Bobbi Saltzman with Legal Aid answered every question I had and proved to be a wealth of knowledge.”

Emily encourages other attorneys to volunteer, even in areas of law that they are not familiar with, and to remember that they are resourceful and capable of advocating for a client.

“Legal Aid is vital to the city’s underserved population,” she said. “Every human being deserves justice and unfortunately, not every person has the opportunity and/or resources to enable them to seek the justice they deserve. Legal Aid helps right that wrong through legal representation and advocating on behalf of those persons.”

Thanks to a Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant from the Legal Services Corporation, Legal Aid now has more resources to help volunteer attorneys advocate for safe housing. Learn more and sign-up at: lasclev.org/volunteer.

Originally published in Legal Aid's "Poetic Justice" newsletter, Volume 20, Issue 3 in Fall/Winter 2023. See full issue at this link: “Poetic Justice” Volume 20, Issue 3.