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Residents, service providers press Douglas County commissioners to place tenant 'right to counsel' on Oct. 1 agenda
Summary
About three dozen speakers at the Douglas County commissioners' Sept. 3 public comment period urged the commission to put a tenant right-to-counsel ordinance on the Oct. 1 agenda, citing local eviction rates, national studies and local program experience.
Dozens of tenants, service providers and community members urged the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 3 to schedule a vote on a tenant right-to-counsel ordinance for the board's Oct. 1 meeting.
Speakers told the commission during the public-comment portion of the meeting that legal representation for tenants facing eviction would reduce homelessness, correct power imbalances in eviction court and save public resources. "I wanna thank this commission for supporting the A Place for Everyone plan to end chronic homelessness," said Joe Cassad of Justice Matters. "There is a reason why it was included in the plan because it helps to reduce homelessness."
The request was supported by a mix of residents and nonprofit staff. "Tenants have counterclaims. Our stories are rarely heard in court without an attorney," said Cassandra Barrett, a Lawrence renter, describing experience living with raw sewage for months and fearing retaliatory eviction. "Put tenant right to counsel on the agenda for October 1 and vote yes," Barrett said.
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