Akron City Council approved legislation on June 23 to launch a Right to Counsel pilot program in Akron.
In partnership with United Way of Summit & Medina and Community Legal Aid, this program aims to provide legal counsel and supportive services to City of Akron residents facing eviction to address tenants’ needs and mitigate the harm evictions can cause to both tenants and landlords. The three-year pilot program is scheduled to begin in September 2025 with an initial budget of $250,000 for each year of the program.
"Right to Counsel has been a proven success in more than two dozen communities in the U.S., and we applaud the city of Akron for moving forward with us on this effort," said Steven McGarrity, Community Legal Aid executive director. "We are ready to begin work on the pilot and look forward to seeing the impact we can have in the next three years."
In 2022, hundreds of local tenants, landlords, community organizers, and elected officials gathered for the Community Legal Aid and Fair Housing Contact Service's Eviction Prevention Summit in Akron – to reflect on the city’s high eviction rate and talk about solutions. As a City Councilman at the time, Mayor Shammas Malik had been working on a Right to Counsel program modeled off of programs in Cleveland and elsewhere, to provide legal representation to individuals facing eviction. Now, that pilot program is close to launching in September.
To qualify for the Right to Counsel program, a tenant must be seven days away from facing eviction. The program will focus on addressing priority populations based on income level, children in the household, and age. The highest priority clients are those at 100% of the poverty line and with children living in the home. The second highest priority are those clients at 100% of the poverty line who are 60 years or older with a disability. If a tenant does not qualify for the program, Community Legal Aid will assist to the extent possible and will make referrals to partner organizations for supportive services.
Community Legal Aid will staff the program with a managing attorney, attorney, and paralegal. United Way Summit & Medina will provide coordinating services and some rental assistance, and the City of Akron will provide the funding for the pilot program.
During the pilot program, when a tenant receives a notice of eviction proceedings from the Court, it will include information for tenants to reach out for services. Upon screening, if they are eligible for the Right to Counsel Program, they will be assigned an attorney from Community Legal Aid who can assist them during their case and either help fight the eviction or help ensure a smooth transition to new housing.
“The Right to Counsel Program will undoubtedly help prevent some of our residents from experiencing homelessness,” said Akron Mayor Malik. “By focusing on those most in need and providing them with support, resources, and legal help through the eviction progress, we can help ensure that whether they end up staying in their home or transitioning to a new home, they have support and resources throughout the process. Evictions can be harmful both to the tenant and to landlords looking for stability in their homes. This program will be beneficial to our entire community and help mitigate the harm that evictions can cause.”
“Housing is a critical component to the stability of Akron's children, families and seniors, and bringing targeted solutions to pressing housing needs is vital, especially as we face possible cuts at the state and federal levels," said Annie McFadden, Interim President & CEO of United Way of Summit & Medina. "Through the dedication of a lot of committed partners in the housing and government space, this community has been able to collaborate and bring this pilot to life, and United Way of Summit & Medina is proud to be a partner.”