Tenants, advocates press Bozeman commission for full right-to-counsel funding

At least three public commenters urged the Bozeman City Commission on June 3 to fund full legal representation for tenants facing eviction, not just mediation programs. Speakers described intimidation by corporate landlords and denied repairs that, they said, put tenants at risk of losing housing.

"Tenant right to counsel is not just for the 60 families that Bozeman's landlords are expected to evict this year. Tenant right to counsel is for every tenant who has had the threat of eviction wielded against them," said Jacob Burgo, identifying himself as a leader with Bozeman Tenants United. Burgo told the commission his landlord threatened eviction after a rent-payment mix-up and he left housing of six years rather than face possible court action.

"Evictions are a driving cause of homelessness and can be prevented if tenants are guaranteed access to legal representation during the eviction proceedings," Mark Geyer told the commission, urging full funding for right-to-counsel protections. Fran Hanson, who identified herself as a member of Bozeman Tenants United and a tenant at Larkspur Commons, described issues including a two-month delay to fix a sewer backup and the removal of her handicap parking by a new manager. Hanson said eviction threats imposed severe emotional and housing risk.

Speakers asked the commission to move beyond a mediation-only approach that some argued helps landlords and tenants who negotiate in good faith but does not protect tenants against bad-faith eviction threats. Commissioners acknowledged the testimony and previously directed staff to explore right-to-counsel options; several commissioners said they want staff to return with funding scenarios and program design details. No final funding decision was made at the June 3 meeting.