St. Pete weighs right to counsel for tenants facing eviction
UPDATE: City Council approves pilot program
The St. Pete city Council has approved $100k for a pilot program that “allows any CRA resident facing eviction to access free legal counsel from the Community Law Program without any income restrictions.”
Background
In St. Pete, the City Council, spurred by councilmember Richie Floyd, has charged its Youth and Family Services Subcommittee with studying the potential to increase representation for tenants facing eviction, with an eye towards providing a right to counsel. On May 18th, in a 7-1 vote, the St. Petersburg City Council passed a resolution supporting free legal representation through a pro-bono legal services provider to tenants facing eviction and requesting that “City Administration explore the creation of a program to facilitate funding local not for profit pro-bono legal service providers to assist tenants facing eviction.”
This initiative has been covered by WMNF, WTSP, and Creative Loafing.
The NCCRC has worked to support the efforts of Councilmember Floyd.
