New eviction report reveals how local laws shape who stays housed — and who doesn’t
Contact
Maria Duvuvuei
Communications Strategist
(202) 295-1542
The Legal Services Corporation’s (LSC) newly released report, The Effect of State and Local Laws on Eviction: Lessons Learned and Future Directions, synthesizes key findings from the organization’s congressionally directed eviction study. The study looks at how eviction laws affect tenants and the ripple effects of eviction. It also highlights innovative solutions civil legal services providers are using to help keep families in their homes.
The report is the culmination of LSC’s multiyear eviction study. Congress directed LSC to conduct the study in response to concerns about high eviction rates and the patchwork of local laws and regulations governing the eviction process. The report brings together evidence to examine how eviction laws, court processes and access to legal services shape outcomes across jurisdictions.
"Everyone deserves access to safe and affordable housing and should have high quality counsel when facing unlawful evictions," said Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-6), who requested the study. "I'm thankful we now have extensive data to examine and properly reflect on how we can solve the high rate of unmet legal needs involving eviction."
“Eviction is often treated as a single national issue, but our research shows it is profoundly local,” said LSC President Ron Flagg. “Where you live, how your court operates and whether legal services are part of the system often determine whether a case ends with families losing their homes or in ways that minimize harm.”
The report also reveals major gaps in eviction data. Court records often show how many eviction cases are filed but rarely track how those cases ultimately turn out for tenants. Meanwhile, informal evictions, where tenants are locked out or are otherwise forced from the property without a formal eviction filing, aren't recorded at all. The report calls for continued expansion of LSC’s Civil Court Data Initiative to build durable, shared data infrastructure to support courts, legal aid providers and policymakers over time.
Wide variations in timelines, notice requirements and procedural safeguards affect how eviction plays out across the country. Civil legal services organizations help people navigate these challenges — providing representation, coordinating diversion and mediation, connecting tenants to rental assistance and resources and supporting more consistent and efficient court processes.
Previous briefs from LSC’s eviction study examined a range of related topics, including how landlords and property managers can serve as partners in housing stability and the value and cost of legal representation in eviction cases.