FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2024
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Michelle Montano
(860) 209-7107
Rep. Rosa DeLauro Joins New Haven Legal Assistance for Press Conference Unveiling the Eviction Prevention Act
New Haven, CT (January 5, 2024) – Today, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, joined the New Haven Legal Assistance for a press conference where she advocated for the Eviction Prevention Act, a piece of legislation aimed at providing crucial support to tenants facing eviction.
The Eviction Prevention Act, co-sponsored by DeLauro and Penn. Sen. Bob Casey seeks to address the increasing challenges faced by individuals and families nationwide who are at risk of losing their homes due to rising rents and gaps in affordable housing. The proposed legislation builds on existing Right to Counsel Programs initiated in several states, including Connecticut.
The event took place on Friday, Jan. 5 at New Haven Legal Assistance Association’s headquarters on 205 Orange St.
“At 9 years old, on a Friday night, I came home to my house with my mom and dad, we found all of our belongings on the street,” said DeLauro to a crowd of 30 people gathered at NHLAA. “We had been evicted. Not because my mom and dad weren't working as hard as they could, but because of the financial challenges we faced. We had to live with my grandmother until we got back on our feet. Not everyone has that option. Eviction turned our world upside down.”
Each year, nearly 5 million Americans lose their homes through eviction and foreclosure. These forced displacements are intensely traumatic financially, physically, and emotionally. They increase a family’s likelihood of facing homelessness. Children may have to switch schools, parents could lose their jobs, and families’ possessions end up on the sidewalk.
The press conference began with opening remarks from Alexis Smith, Executive Director of New Haven Legal Assistance, who highlighted the significance of 2024 as the organization's 60th anniversary and how now more than ever the crisis of eviction is impacting families across the state. Smith emphasized the enduring commitment of New Haven Legal Assistance to providing equal access to the justice system, especially for those systematically excluded from it.
"In our 60 years of service, addressing clients’ housing matters has been core to our work, particularly in the pandemic and post-pandemic periods," said Smith. "Eviction rates around the country, including here in Connecticut, are the highest we have seen in recent years."
Smith praised the impact of Connecticut’s Housing Right to Counsel Program.
"Before Connecticut’s Housing Right to Counsel Program, over 80 percent of tenants went to Housing Court without the benefit of a lawyer,” said Smith. “Because of this program, LAA was able to add more housing lawyers to help our clients assert the rights they are entitled to."
Smith expressed her firm belief that Connecticut’s Right to Counsel program could serve as a model for the nation and acknowledged the vital partnerships with the larger legal aid network over the last two years.
The Eviction Prevention Act aligns with the ongoing efforts of New Haven Legal Assistance and other legal aid organizations to ensure adequate representation for tenants facing eviction. Support for the bill has been echoed by various organizations, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Housing Law Project.
ABOUT NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION
NHLAA offers free, high-quality legal services to people living in poverty in New Haven County and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. They strive to provide equal access to the justice system, enhance the rights and living conditions of our client community, and help the client community protect their own rights. NHLAA accomplish these goals by providing legal advice, brief service, and full representation to individual clients; strategically prioritizing legal work that will make systemic improvements benefitting large numbers of low-income people; and engaging in community education and outreach. They represent seniors, people with mental and physical disabilities, children, domestic violence survivors, immigrants, low-wage workers, families at risk of homelessness, and individuals who face additional challenges to representing themselves, such as those with limited English proficiency.
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