Bucks Writs - Fall 2019 - 28

feature

BCBA Launches Pro Bono
Eviction Prevention Pilot
Program in November
By Marion Hoffman Fraley
Communications Manager, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA

With 7,000 - 8,000 residential evictions in Bucks
County every year, "many folks are one step away from
homelessness," Ronald Smolow, Esq., noted in introducing

Most tenants facing eviction do not have legal representation and often do not attend their eviction hearings, while
landlords are much more likely to have representation at
the hearings. "Tenants often have no attorney, no money,
and no place to go," Smolow told attorneys at the October
18th CLE introducing the program. "We'd like to create a
more level playing field."

the new Bucks County Bar Association eviction prevention
pilot program. The three-month pilot will provide free
one-day legal representation for tenants without counsel
in landlord-tenant eviction cases. The pilot will also
provide access to social services through the Bucks County

"Tenants often have no attorney, no
money, and no place to go," Smolow
told attorneys at the October 18th CLE
introducing the program. "We'd like to
create a more level playing field."

Opportunity Council, which is the designated Community
Action Agency (CAA) for Bucks County. The Opportunity
Council will have case managers at court for each of the
hearing dates to offer tenants services which may be helpful
in stabilizing their housing situation. It also plans to follow
up with tenants and provide counseling post hearing.

Magisterial District Judge Jan Vislosky answers a question
from an attorney at an Oct. 18 CLE on "Representing
Tenants Facing Eviction in Magisterial District Court."
Ronald Smolow (at center), Esq., and Robert Kim, Esq.,
Staff Attorney for Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP), also
presented information on landlord-tenant law.
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Bucks Writs - Fall 2019

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