Maine Eviction Defense Project Highlighted in National Study of Pro Bono Impacts
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Carl Rauscher
Director of Communications and Media Relations
rauscherc@lsc.gov
202-295-1615
WASHINGTON —Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s (PTLA) Eviction Defense Project is featured in a Legal Services Corporation brief released today that showcases the critical role of pro bono attorneys in eviction defense.
The findings are part of a congressionally-directed study, The Effect of State & Local Laws on Evictions, to investigate the unmet legal needs surrounding the eviction crisis in the United States.
Prior to the pandemic, there were 5,800 eviction filings on average in Maine each year. The number of filings decreased significantly during the pandemic due to moratoriums and available rental aid. Now, with many people facing economic hardships brought on by the pandemic and the expiration of renter protections, the number of eviction filings is expected to continue to rise.
In the U.S., about one-in-three renter households will experience a housing-related civil legal problem such as eviction in a year, but the vast majority will receive little or no help in navigating their legal issues. Currently, family law cases get much more support from pro bono attorneys than housing cases, even though rental-related issues are one of the most common civil legal problems.
Nationally, landlords are four times more likely to be represented in eviction cases than tenants. Better leveraging pro bono services for tenants facing eviction is essential to addressing the eviction crisis. According to the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, tenants in the state are 85% more likely to avoid an eviction judgement when they are represented by an attorney.
The Eviction Defense Project (EDP), piloted in 2019, utilizes a practice group approach to effectively funnel PTLA’s in-house expertise to train and mentor pro bono volunteers. PTLA collaborates with law firms, individual practitioners and the Maine State Bar Association on coordination, networking and outreach.
The eviction defense training includes a panel of experienced attorneys who present an overview of landlord tenant laws, common defenses, court procedures and several hypotheticals. The pro bono volunteers agree to accept one full representation case within the year, or join a small cohort of attorneys who consider pro bono eviction referrals on a biweekly to monthly basis.
Over 80% of tenants supported by the program receive full representation, and 98% of those full representation cases are resolved with outcomes favorable to the client, including but not limited to delaying or avoiding eviction.
To learn more about this and other model programs and the challenges pro bono attorneys face in eviction cases, read the full brief here.