U.S. gets "D" on access to counsel in housing cases

The 2016 Human Right to Housing Report Cardissued by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty gives the United States a "D" grade on access to counsel in housing cases.  It notes:

With one limited exception, no court or legislature anywhere in the U.S. has recognized a right to counsel in housing matters such as evictions, foreclosures, or housing discrimination.  This has led to a situation where, in many areas of the country, more than 90% of foreclosure and eviction defendants are unrepresented, while landlords and mortgage holders are represented 90% of the time.

The bill does take note that several states have bills pending that would provide a right to counsel in certain housing cases, and that research on the impact of providing counsel has increased.