Free Eviction Help Toolkit

Cuyahoga County provided extra funds to The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to provide legal assistance for suburban County renters who are facing eviction due to lost income from COVID-19.

Thanks to this funding, Legal Aid - a private nonprofit - has the capacity to serve more people facing eviction in 2021 and hopefully into 2022, 2023 and beyond.  Legal Aid is working with United Way to provide outreach and evaluate this important expansion to ensure rights are protected when housing is at risk.

Local Court help is needed to make this effort a success, and to help create momentum for long-term sustainability.  Together, we can work to improve access to justice for those facing eviction.

The below details are a toolkit for suburban Cuyahoga County municipal courts as they prepare for this extra help for residents facing eviction. Court judges and staff can simply click on the links below for helpful information, sample website language, and graphics.

• Agenda and Slide Deck from briefing meeting for Judges and Clerks on 5/26/21
• Follow-Up Memo to Judges from 5/26/21 meeting - details of suggested court efficiencies and procedures
• Sample language for use on local court website  - provides details for how to direct people to Legal Aid for help
• "Free Eviction Help" graphic to use on Court website and social media - right click on link to download version needed:
  JPG - PNG
• Screening form to provide to tenant/defendants (for Courts to have online and/or available at hearing)

KEY CONTACTS:

• Legal Aid Intake:
  • Apply Online: www.lasclev.org/contact
    (available 24/7)
  • Call: 216-861-5835
    M, W, F - 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    T, Th - 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

• Outreach Materials:
  • Julie Wisneski
    Associate Director, Right to Counsel - United Way of Greater Cleveland
    216-436-2228
    jwisneski@unitedwaycleveland.org

• • • United Way has inserts/stuffers for the summons and posters for display in your court (can provide as many as needed).
    • Also, United Way can send a letter to all defendants once eviction is filed.  Ideally, data for letter should be shared 1x/week via XLS to United Way.

• Data and Evaluation:
  
  • Neil Steinkamp
    Managing Director - Stout
    646-807-4229
    nsteinkamp@stout.com
    • To ensure sustainability beyond 2021, Legal Aid and United Way wish to collaborate with courts to collect these data points:
      • Docket number (unique identifier)
      • Eviction Filing Date
      • Plaintiff Name
      • Plaintiff Attorney Name
      • Property Address
      • Defendant Attorney Name
      • Status or Disposition
      • Disposition Date