What is CELHP?
MCLE: Tenants' Rights in Massachusetts During COVID
April 14, 2021
Quisquella Addison, Project Manager CELHP Legal Services Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
What is CELHP?
• CELHP was formed to expand the capacity of existing civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts, as well as the pro bono bar, to provide urgently needed legal assistance in COVID-related eviction cases
• CELHP is part of a larger initiative called the Eviction Diversion Initiative, which seeks to prevent evictions and stabilize people’s housing during the pandemic
• The Eviction Diversion Initiative is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Who are the CELHP partners?
• Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation administering the project
• Massachusetts Law Reform Institute implementing the legal services component
• Volunteer Lawyers Project implementing the pro bono component for tenants and owner-occupants
Who is providing CELHP legal help?
• Community Legal Aid
• De Novo
• Greater Boston Legal Services
• MetroWest Legal Services
• Northeast Legal Aid
• South Coastal Counties Legal Services
• Volunteer Lawyers Project How can CELHP help tenants?
CELHP provides referrals, legal information, assistance and legal representation in Housing Court statewide and District Court where available Who is eligible? ⮚Household income must be under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
⮚Eviction must be related to COVID
Case Outcomes
Community Legal Aid ● Lisa: Collaboration with domestic violence organization keeps survivor housed ● Stu: 11th hour motion prevents senior from losing his home of 31 years
Northeast Legal Aid ● Kevin: CELHP team prevents illegal lockout of disabled tenant ● Lauren: NLA provides tenant with phone to overcome communication barrier ● Catherine: Nursing home aid contracts COVID and is met with eviction notice
De Novo ● Kata: Eviction of mother and daughter stopped after CELHP intervention ● Virginia: CELHP secures rental assistance for disabled mother Case Outcomes
Greater Boston Legal Services ● Jay: After job loss and cancer diagnosis, tenancy stabilized rental assistance pays off arrears for father of three ● Vinny: Elder with history of homelessness avoids eviction after exhausting savings and 401(k) ● JJ: Single mother gets fresh start after landlord harassment
MetroWest ● Sarah: Notice to Quit withdrawn for mother & son who slept in a van ● Heather: Domestic violence confronted and housing stabilized ● Jose and Nicole: Unemployed hospitality workers’ case dismissed, housing preserved
SCCLS ● Nuella: Language barriers, emergency room parking lot ● Carol: Facing High-risk pregnancy and eviction for, landlord twice what was owed asking for more rent than owed
Volunteer Lawyers Project ● Rafaela: Win-win, tenants get rental assistance, landlord gets back rent paid agreement
Who is offering services to small landlords/owner occupants?
• Volunteer Lawyers Project • Legal Aid Organization and Call Center • Only organization under the CELHP project charged with serving low-income landlords
• Contact Information: • Call Center: 617-603-1700 • Website: vlpnet.org What is a small landlord/owner occupant?
• Small landlord/Owner occupant: • Someone who lives in and rents out one or more units of their home • 200% of poverty guidelines
• US Citizen, green card holder, or fall under certain legal immigration statuses
• At risk of foreclosure, bankruptcy, or having to evict tenants due to COVID related hardships • 100% Access to Something • Legal advice, resources, and education available regardless of eligibility
EvictionLegalHelp.org How to get Legal Help
Questions and Answers
Q&A