U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) have introduced the Eviction Prevention Act this week, aiming to address rising housing instability. The proposed legislation seeks to help low-income tenants by connecting them with legal representation and equipping federal agencies with better tools to monitor eviction cases.
“Far too many Americans are at an increased risk of eviction and homelessness because they don’t have access to legal representation to help them and advocate for them,” said Senator Casey. He emphasized that the bill would help families stay housed and level the playing field between tenants and landlords, a much-needed step in the current housing crisis.
Congresswoman DeLauro, who has personal experience with eviction, echoed the sentiment. She lauded the Eviction Prevention Act as a necessary initiative to prevent the life-altering impact of eviction on individuals and families.
The Act is designed to provide state and local governments with grant funding to hire attorneys. These attorneys will represent very low-income tenants during eviction proceedings, thus offering them a fighting chance to keep their homes.
Among the endorsers of the legislation is the National Housing Law Project. Its Executive Director, Shamus Roller, stated that the Act would authorize new grants for tenant representation, create the nation’s first federal evictions database, and generate a government report on the eviction landscape in America. He described the bill as essential for understanding and reducing future evictions.
Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, also expressed support for the bill. She highlighted the urgent need for immediate action and long-term solutions like the Eviction Prevention Act, especially considering the pre-existing eviction crisis that predominantly affects Black women.
The Eviction Prevention Act also boasts endorsements from the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, National League of Cities, Public Justice, A Way Home America, Community Legal Services Philadelphia, the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and True Colors United.
The introduction of this Act signals a significant step toward addressing the affordable housing crisis in the U.S. By providing legal counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction, the legislation aims to promote housing stability and prevent homelessness.
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