Right to counsel is both a housing and public health intervention
The COVID 19 pandemic exposed and clarified the significance of housing for health and well-being. Recognition that housing instability and homelessness contributed to the spread of COVID 19 spurred urgent and creative action to address symptoms of a longstanding affordable housing crisis including the risk of eviction from rental housing. As one example, here in Connecticut, a statewide moratorium on evictions helped keep renters housed when pandemic related wage loss caused them to fall behind on rent.
Similarly, the CDC’s eviction moratorium helped to prevent a tidal wave of evictions across the country. These moratoria were critical stop gap measures in a time of crisis. However, as a post-pandemic period comes closer into view, there is an urgent need to build on these temporary measures to ensure housing security for all, including protections against evictions and the cascade of negative health consequences that are associated with these forced moves. One such strategy is to provide legal representation for tenants facing eviction.