Housing Advocates Anticipating More Eviction Filings

Housing advocates are working to connect Cleveland residents facing eviction with resources and legal representation as courts continue hearings. The Legal Aid Society has helped about 29 people facing eviction since launching Cleveland’s Right to Counsel initiative last month, according to managing attorney Abigail Staudt.

“Our first priority is to assess the case, assign a case to an attorney, identify the amount owed, and what rent assistance program would be most suitable for that tenant,” Staudt said. 

Local housing courts saw a spike of eviction filings when they began reopening in June, Staudt said, though it was lower than expected after the months-long moratorium. Case numbers leveled out to normal rates after a few days, Staudt said, but she anticipates more cases are forthcoming.

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