For tenants, the best places to get help are nonprofit organizations or government agencies. Typically, the laws affecting tenants are local, so finding a resource in your area is important. National organizations can also connect tenants to local resources. Check out the American Bar Association’s website for a list of legal resources in your state. After you’ve located a local resource, contact the nonprofit organization for a free initial consultation.
Free initial consultations
You don’t have to pay for a legal consultation just because the attorney is pro bono. You can find great lawyers who provide free legal services to tenants and landlords. While free legal advice may not come from a lawyer of distinction, it still represents valuable legal advice. The following are some free services available to tenants. Here is a look at a few of these organizations. These resources will help you understand your rights and how to protect them.
A tenant’s lawyer can help you fight for your rights when you’re being harassed or evicted. Many landlords won’t pay their tenants after eviction, so it’s important to find one that will take your case. Free initial consultations for pro bono tenants can help you understand the process and determine whether you need to hire a lawyer. You can request an initial consultation over the phone or in person. You may need to provide supporting documentation, such as pictures or written notices, hospital bills, or invoices. You should speak to several lawyers before choosing one.
Free eviction defense
If you need free eviction defense, you are not alone. Over 100 nonprofit law firms offer free legal advice and representation to low-income families facing questionable evictions. The help these lawyers provide is invaluable, and millions of families benefit from it each year. There are two main ways to get help: online or in person. Find a nonprofit in your area and connect with their staff.
To help combat the problem of eviction, law students are conducting a multi-pronged approach. Students are first conducting a file review to identify potentially at-risk households. Next, they contact each household with a pending eviction hearing, offer ERA application assistance, and legal representation, and prepare eviction defense packets for pro bono lawyers. On hearing day, students also engage in courthouse advocacy. Last year, 98% of evictions were avoided.
Nonprofit organizations that provide legal aid to low-income renters
Many nonprofit organizations provide legal aid to low-income renters. MFY Legal Services, for example, provides legal services to low-income residents on Manhattan West Side. Their legal services include domestic violence, consumer debt, immigration, and community economic development. They also provide tenant organizing services and weatherization assistance to maximize the benefits of affordable housing. The organization serves more than 3,000 clients per year. Its mission is to help people achieve financial security through housing.
Goddard Riverside Law Project is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981. Their services include tenant organizing assistance, eviction defense, and group advocacy to improve housing conditions. They also help low-income residents with consumer debt issues and public benefits. The nonprofit organization provides free legal services to nearly 4,000 clients each year. Its attorneys offer full representation, brief services, organizing support, and educational training.
Sources of assistance for tenants
Many resources provide free legal assistance to landlords and tenants, and the Internet is a great place to start your search. Check out nonprofit organizations, like RentPrep, and government agencies that provide legal assistance to tenants. You may even find an attorney for free on the internet. Pro bono attorneys can help tenants and landlords navigate complex housing laws, including eviction, landlord-tenant disputes, and other areas of the law.
In New York, a new initiative called COVID-19 aims to assist tenants facing eviction. Through this initiative, attorneys can apply for federal assistance through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, volunteer for local legal aid organizations, and help implement eviction diversion programs. Each of these initiatives presents law students with opportunities for pro bono work, from drafting know-your-rights materials for tenants to promoting public education campaigns. Legal Services of the Hudson Valley also provides a directory for tenants in need.