The Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo) and the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) stand united in response to Attorney General Garland’s call to the legal profession to swiftly respond to the housing crisis by preventing eviction and promoting access to funds available to low-income tenants through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

Countless Americans are at risk of losing their homes as the pandemic continues and the effects of its economic consequences push housing stability out of reach. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by this crisis and are historically underrepresented in landlord-tenant disputes. Legal services organizations face an overwhelming need for support as large-scale eviction efforts commence.

Law firms have an important opportunity to support legal services organizations, contribute to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and help mitigate a housing crisis that would exacerbate exposure to COVID-19 and worsen the impact on people of color. The funding available through ERAP not only offers a critical lifeline to people facing eviction, but it also provides rent owed to landlords who are also adversely impacted by the pandemic.

LFAA and APBCo are immediately seeking active engagement from law firms, their lawyers and other professional staff to support legal services organizations and to provide pro bono assistance to tenants eligible for ERAP funds. To facilitate that work, the organizations will be offering a nationwide training on September 2, 2021 to prepare advocates to assist with ERAP applications. APBCo and LFAA will coordinate with legal services organizations throughout the country to offer resources to support their work related to eviction prevention. Together, we will work to ensure equitable access to justice, especially among marginalized communities of color and other vulnerable people who have suffered devastating hardship throughout the pandemic and who are at heightened risk of harm today.

Organizations that need volunteers to assist with ERAP applications can complete this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APBCoLFAA-ERA.

Individuals who are interested in attending or viewing the ERAP training can register here: https://insights.skadden.com/57/2339/landing-pages/eviction-prevention.asp.