Hey, Can We Talk? Mediation Might Help Reduce Evictions

The city of Philadelphia piloted a mediation program that showed how landlord-tenant disputes could be resolved short of an eviction lawsuit. Though the program only lasted two months and heard just a handful of cases, it demonstrated that landlords will participate voluntarily in a system that can equalize a power imbalance and resolve disputes in ways that prove less damaging to both parties. Demand for the mediation program could ramp up if an expected wave of evictions hits because of the pandemic's effects on the economy.

In the 1960s, Uruguay created a cooperative housing policy designed to help ease housing shortages especially among lower- and middle-class residents, with cooperative projects bolstered by state loans and technical support. The country now counts over 70,000 co-op-owned homes, making up roughly 5 percent of the housing stock.

Tenants in Cleveland can qualify for access to legal representation in eviction hearings through the Right to Counsel program. Similar programs across the country have resulted in high rates of success, with up to 85 percent of renters avoiding eviction.

Right to Counsel laws ensure legal representation for tenants facing eviction in Ohio and New York. Results from various cities show that free legal aid results in lower eviction rates. Eviction rates in North Carolina are on the rise and advocates say the state needs to implement Right to Counsel laws.

A 'pay to stay' law in Toledo and Yellow Springs, Ohio, is enabling renters to stay in their homes if they can cover any late rental payments in full. Current Ohio law allows a landlord to file for an eviction even if a tenant is just one day late on rent. The new legislation provides protection to tenants but the law differs from city to city. Housing advocates are pushing for the same law in Lakewood, South Euclid, and Cleveland Heights.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is helping low-income people facing legal hardships and civil issues obtain fair representation and access to services and aid. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the organization has struggled to keep pace with the need, but has still been able to provide services to nearly half of those who have requested and connect many of the others with partner organizations.

Chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are using door-to-door campaigns to inform tenants about their rights if facing an eviction. Although evidence is limited about the success in preventing the evictions, some tenants have expressed that the outreach has helped them feel heard and many are more likely to show up in court.

Soon after the federal government imposed a second moratorium on evictions, SixFifty, a tech firm, released Hello Landlord, a mobile app for tenants to generate a legally compliant form letter invoking the law with their landlords to block a threatened eviction. In the first nine days after its release, the app was used by more than 200 people. The free service is an example of what's called lawtech: technology giving access to legal information to individuals and small businesses. Hello Landlord asks 19 questions that serve to automate what a tenant's lawyer might do – if only the tenant could afford one.

A "right-to-purchase" policy has enabled nonprofits to purchase residential buildings in gentrified neighborhoods in order to prevent the displacement of those relying on rent-controlled housing. Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) is a Bay Area nonprofit leading the cause to counter gentrification and prevent developers from purchasing residential buildings that house low and moderate-income households. MEDA has purchased and managed 32 buildings and is one of fewer than 10 nonprofits in the area that exercise the "right-to-purchase" policy.

California coastal towns address homelessness by supporting individuals who live on their boats - and those who want to move back to land. While many counties destroy or condemn boats that have been anchored long-term, areas like Half Moon Bay and Marin county work with individuals who want to find stable housing.