Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Following months of tense discourse about tenant right to counsel, Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted 3-2 for a pilot program that will grant some tenants facing eviction access to legal representation.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Tenants, a citywide tenant union, rallied support at a town hall Saturday for a delayed program meant to provide legal representation for people facing eviction.
A bill giving legal options to tenants who lose their homes because of bad landlords passed the Senate on Tuesday, after an amendment that limited individual tenants’ right to sue.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
A Lawrence tenant union will host a town hall Saturday to educate and update residents on progress to establish a right to legal representation for people facing eviction in Douglas County.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Although Douglas County has expressed commitment to tenant right to counsel and has engaged in implementation discussions for months, a majority of county commissioners Wednesday opted instead to have county staff do more research on mediation.
Douglas County commissioners have requested that staff complete more research over the next month or two toward implementing tenant right to counsel, though dozens of advocates called for a vote to launch a program this month.
Nathan Kramer/Lawrence Times
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will discuss ways the county could ensure that people facing evictions have legal representation and weigh in on numerous staff questions, including whether to consider income eligibility restrictions and more.
Nathan Kramer/Lawrence Times
People with housing advocacy organizations urged the Douglas County Commission to schedule a vote and adopt tenant right to counsel next month.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
As Douglas County commissioners reviewed eviction prevention methods, presenters identified a need for greater public education on tenant-landlord issues, while representatives from Lawrence Tenants called for tenant right to counsel.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
A recent “Know Your Rights” presentation provided legal resources to tenants in Lawrence, demonstrating that they have recourse to fight evictions in court.
