As the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic is evident on the economy as well, it is pretty much visible that the issues shall go on and stretch even to this new year 2021. Millions of US renters are taking up the provision of being able to show up in the housing court so as to prevent the possibility of being evicted. However, unlike their landlords, just a very little fraction of them will be doing it so flanked by the attorney. Lesser than 10 cities and counties all across the nation will guarantee the tenants to avail the right to a lawyer in consideration to all sorts of housing related disputes.
An attorney is going to go beyond all possible means for the people who have been struggling all throughout so as to meet the ends meet. An attorney is going to skip their court hearings or walk in while knowing that they have got minimum chance. A case won’t be assigned with an attorney if someone is not being able to afford one. This is quite different from that of the criminal cases in this respect. The pro bono lawyers and legal aid organisations represent a lot of renters each year but they would need outspaces.
Housing advocates compelling on the issue of rent relief
The housing advocates have primarily pushed on the issue of rent relief from the government wherein the experts have been expecting more and more cities to join this movement wherein they can give the right to the tenants so that they are able to choose an attorney. Gretchen Purser, an associate professor of sociology at the Syracuse University who had been doing a specialization in homelessness, housing and urban poverty stated, “The push for right to counsel preceded the pandemic, but it’s particularly acute and particularly urgent in light of the pandemic, given just the overall precarity that renters are facing.”
A lot of people across the nation have had lost their jobs and thus, had faced mounting medical bills due to this health crisis. Hence, they have all owed months of rent and this further have a count of 34 billion dollars by the month of January as per the latest estimation by the global investment bank. The federal Covid 19 package had included 25 billion dollars in the form of rental assistance as an extension of the eviction moratorium.
Zachary Kettering thought that the moratorium would offer a protection to him as he lost 2 jobs during the pandemic. He further fell behind on rent, and this further led them to receive a notice in the month of October to vacate his 1 bedroom flat which was situated in the Dallas suburb of McKinney. He even fell victom to a caveat that the housing attorneys have warned regarding the order that came from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. It further stated that this is not going to be a blanket moratorium but the tenants would need to sign a declaration and thus, give a copy of the same to the landlord.
Kettering who is a disabled veteran owed 6900 dollars of rent by the early month of December and a constable did knock at his door with an eviction notice. It was until a friend has helped him loan the amount so as to cover the debt. The other cities with such implementation of laws regarding the housing attorney include that of New Jersey, San Francisco, Newark and Philadelphia.
