New Orleans joins ranks of cities with tenant right to counsel
05/06/2022, Legislation, Housing - Evictions
In May 2022, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved an ordinance (which was slightly amended) that provides counsel as a matter of right to all tenants (regardless of income) facing eviction or termination of a housing subsidy, as well as for any proceedings seeking injunctive relief related to an illegal eviction and some appeals. The Council had previously allocated $2 million in initial funding. According to a 2022 press release from the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, New Orleans at the time was already seeing a rate of evictions that exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
NOLA dot com covered the passage. Also, check out a CityHealth video about the impact of NOLA's RTC program.
Appointment of Counsel: categorical Qualified: yes
The NCCRC supported the effort through testimony and behind-the-scenes work. |