Cleveland Looks to Provide Legal Representation for Impoverished Families Facing Eviction

"CLEVELAND, Ohio – City Council introduced legislation Wednesday that would establish a program that provides lawyers free of charge to impoverished families facing eviction.

The legislation is an important step toward stabilizing neighborhoods and ensuring that impoverished families with children have someone advocating for their rights in court City Council President Kevin Kelley said. Eviction is disruptive for landlord and tenants, and in the case of a family with children, it can cause turmoil.

“We start with the fact that we’re evicting too many children,” Kelley said in an interview with cleveland.com.

The legislation is the result of months of planning and research by the Housing Justice Alliance, a panel that includes Kelley and others on City Council, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys.

How will it work?

The United Way of Greater Cleveland will serve as the lead partner organization and manage the program, Kelley said.

A news release describes the program as the first of its kind in the Midwest.

If the legislation is passed, the program will begin providing legal representation to eligible tenants -- households with children that are at 100% of the federal poverty level -- in June 2020.

Kelley said Legal Aid, Cleveland Marshall College of Law and the bar associations will help to provide lawyers. United Way will provide training..."

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