Free Eviction Help Expands Across Cuyahoga County

The COVID-19 pandemic left millions of families across the country, including thousands in Cuyahoga County, in a state of financial hardship. Now, with the CDC’s Moratorium on Evictions ending June 30th, many fear losing their housing this summer.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (Legal Aid) and United Way are here to help. Together, we’re expanding the reach of civil legal aid services to help families across Cuyahoga County avoid eviction with the launch of Free Eviction Help.org.  

Housing is a basic human need – yet, when a person is faced with eviction, they do not have a constitutional right to an attorney (the Miranda rights you hear on television crime shows and movies - “you have the right to an attorney ….” only apply to criminal cases). Eviction can have devastating and long-lasting consequences, including homelessness, poor health outcomes, and job loss.

In July of 2020, the City of Cleveland enacted its own Right to Counsel for certain residents facing eviction. Legal Aid and United Way partnered to implement the law and are working to make sure all who qualify have access to free, high-quality legal representation. In the program’s first six months, 93% of tenants represented in Cleveland Housing Court by a Legal Aid attorney avoided an eviction or involuntary. Legal counsel is a critical and life-changing resource.

Inspired by Legal Aid’s success keeping families housed and connecting tenants with rent assistance to pay their landlords, Cuyahoga County has granted $1 million in federal funding to Legal Aid's eviction prevention work in the region. This support will specifically help people and families recover from financial distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit www.FreeEvictionHelp.org to learn more about this expanded service and how to apply for help.

Crucially, Free Eviction Help does not stop at legal representation; renters can receive information about rental assistance, case management, access to food, and other necessary services.

If you are facing an eviction and need help, contact the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland immediately at 216-861-5835. You can also apply for help through the 2-1-1 chat box/phone number. A lawyer will contact you with information and next steps. If your court date has already passed, you may still be able to get help before the day of your eviction hearing. If your hearing is in Cleveland Housing Court, tell the Court at your hearing that you would like a lawyer assigned to you. If you are in another suburban court, click this link and fill out the appropriate form to present to the court.