Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma

PROJECT PURPOSE

Project will prevent evictions and homelessness across Oklahoma. Oklahoma urban areas were national leaders in evictions BEFORE the pandemic. Expired foreclosure moratoriums find 1,0O0's of Oklahoma families behind on their mortgage. For both tenants and homeowners there is no right to legal representation to assert and protect their rights. A home is too essential to be taken away without the ability to contest and resolve short of a loss of a home. National studies show that 2/3 of low income tenants receiving full representation in eviction cases stayed in their homes as compared to less than 1/3 of unrepresented tenants. The impact of legal representation in foreclosure matters is even higher. The cost to government from evictions/foreclosures in regard to homelessness, emergency shelter, loss of employment, emergency room healthcare, law enforcement, and school absenteeism is very high and the significant savings can be better spent. Oklahoma pays the price when tenant/homeowner's rights are not protected. Project will begin as a pilot with a focus on one of the two urban areas and one rural region of state and provide an attorney to eligible persons facing the loss of their home. Eligibility will be based on 80% AMI. Legal representation will be enhanced by extensive education and outreach to the impacted communities to ensure knowledge of Right to Counsel.

EVIDENCE

The interventions as proposed exist in multiple states, counties and municipalities across the nation. The Boston reference above is similar to many other experiences and can be found at the Boston Bar Association Task Force on the Civil Right to Counsel, The Importance of Representation in Eviction Cases and Homelessness Prevention. The University of Tulsa, "Advancing Housing Justice in Tulsa," Terry West Clinic, documents that tenants are being set up to fail without Legal representation in court. The Federal Reserve/Kansas City, the ABA and the Aspen Institute all see Right to Counsel as a best practice.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Community consists of Seniors, disabled persons, Veterans, one parent families, families dependent on service sector employment, families ravaged by Covid and either sick, caring for sick or otherwise homebound residing in both rural and urban communities with substandard housing, limited transportation and limited access to healthcare and facing eviction, foreclosure , debt collection and toxic stress.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Project performance will include the successful outreach to communities and non-profits on this new approach to prevent the loss of home. Data involving # of evictions/Foreclosures prevented and all related outcomes will be tracked. Staff will track activities and outcomes in case management system and be able to provide comprehensive reports.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma