143.10. - Findings and purpose.
(a) Findings. The city council finds that:
(1)
Evictions can produce lasting harm to tenants, including loss of income, homelessness,
restrictions on future housing choice, educational success, mental health, and more.
(2)
Low-income tenants lack legal representation in many eviction proceedings, while rental
property owners are usually represented by an attorney or other professional representative.
(3)
Tenants who are represented by attorneys are less likely to be evicted, and are more
likely to maintain housing stability.
(4)
Tenants who are represented by attorneys are less likely to use homeless shelters
and other emergency resources.
(5)
With an eviction on record, it becomes harder to secure safe, stable housing.
(6)
Evictions disproportionately affect the city's lowest income residents in the most
racially diverse communities.
(b)
Purpose. The city enacts this chapter to create a right to counsel for low-income tenants,
commonly understood to be tenants whose income is less than two hundred (200) percent
of the federal poverty line, and to establish a goal of ensuring that all low-income
tenants facing eviction have an attorney provided to them.
(Ord. No. 2021-044, § 1, 10-8-21)