In a first-of-its-kind action, the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $20 million in grants from its Eviction Protection Grant Program. These grants are being awarded to legal service providers to assist their efforts in providing legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk or subject to eviction.

HUD has selected ten organizations for this first award. Those organizations are -

Individual grants ranged from $1 million to $2.4 million.

This program was created due to studies that show a resident’s chance of being evicted is much greater if they lack legal representation. A study in Minnesota found that fully represented tenants win or settle cases 96% of the time and clients receiving limited representation win or settle their cases 83% of the time. Tenants without representation win or settle just 62% of the time.

Properties in the areas noted above should expect more eviction challenges in the months ahead.