Pro Bono News

Renters Getting Evicted from Their Apartments in N.J. City Will Now Get Free Lawyers (NJ)

Friday, June 07, 2019

Renters Getting Evicted from Their Apartments in N.J. City Will Now Get Free Lawyers

"Low-income residents in Newark who are facing a potentially illegal or unwarranted eviction now have a new lifeline.

Less than a year after announcing its plans, Newark officially launched its Office of Tenant Legal Services on Wednesday to provide free legal services to those earning 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less.

The city has committed $400,000 to the initiative and is working to secure additional funding.

About 38,000 evictions are filed in Essex County every year with Newark accounting for 20,000 of those. About 78 percent of Newarkers are renters. And when faced with eviction, nine out of 10 don’t have an attorney, city officials said.

Residents will be referred to pro bono attorneys or to Essex Newark Legal Services. A $150,000 contract with the agency is pending approval by the City Council..."

Continue reading