Housing in Brief: Detroit Will Provide Free Legal Help to Renters Facing Eviction
May 12, 2022 by Detroit’s City Council recently passed a law granting free legal aid to low-income residents facing eviction, funded by $6 million in COVID relief funds and an additional $4 million from philanthropy. This move makes Detroit one of over a dozen U.S. cities to adopt “Right to Counsel” laws, ensuring legal representation for tenants in eviction proceedings. The initiative responds to stark disparities highlighted by a University of Michigan report showing that only 4.8% of Michigan renters had legal representation compared to 83.2% of landlords between 2014-2018. Similar laws in other cities have correlated with reduced eviction rates, discouraging landlords from pursuing unwarranted evictions.