Join Lawrence Tenants in the fight to win a Tenant Right to Counsel in Douglas County. We will be hearing from the National Coalition for Civic Right to Counsel, organizers, and tenants about why Tenant Right to Counsel is needed and how we're going to win this key public policy.

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National data reveals a stark imbalance in eviction court: landlords have legal representation 83% of the time, while tenants are represented only 4% of the time. While we lack specific local data, this disparity clearly reflects the reality in Douglas County.

Establishing a Tenant Right to Counsel guarantees that every tenant facing eviction has access to a lawyer. In some communities, this policy even extends to providing limited legal advice for tenants dealing with any type of housing issue. Across the United States, communities are adopting Tenant Right to Counsel to prevent people from being illegally forced out of their homes.

In Douglas County, the demographics of homelessness tell a deeper story. Black, brown, and Indigenous people living in Douglas County are disproportionately represented among those staying at the Lawrence Community Shelter. Tenant Right to Counsel has been shown to help keep tenants—particularly tenants of color—in their homes. At Lawrence Tenants, we believe racial justice is essential to building a better housing future.

Douglas County needs a Tenant Right to Counsel to stop illegal evictions and protect our community. Together, we can make it happen.