Charleston Legal Access is proud to announce that we have been selected as a host organization for Equal Justice Works’ Housing Justice Program.
CLA’s selection marks a crucial victory in our mission to combat the worsening housing crisis in the Charleston area by providing needed legal services to low-income individuals facing eviction. Through the program, CLA will hire an Attorney Fellow who will guide the expansion of the highly successful Charleston Housing Court Pilot Project to Berkeley and Dorchester counties, where eviction rates are among the nation’s highest. In fact, the city of North Charleston, partly located within both counties, has the highest eviction rate in the entire United States. (Eviction Lab, 2018)
Given the exceptionally high risk of eviction in these counties, accessible legal representation is needed now more than ever to help tenants avoid homelessness and other tragic outcomes. Currently, in South Carolina, a staggering 99.7% of tenants are not represented in eviction cases, mainly due to the high costs or complicated steps involved in getting an attorney (Measuring South Carolina’s Justice Gap Report, SC Access to Justice Commission, 2021).
““The city of North Charleston has the highest eviction rate in the entire country.””
The Housing Justice Program will eliminate both of these barriers by establishing a Housing Court where an attorney is always present to offer free or significantly reduced legal service on the spot. Furthermore, many free legal service providers in the area are limited to Charleston county while others have limited resources, the Housing Justice Program will ensure that individuals threatened by eviction in Berkeley and Dorchester counties are no longer left defenseless.
Most importantly, the Housing Court system has already proven to be highly effective in preventing eviction since it was implemented in Charleston county in 2019. In last year’s Housing Court, over 300 eviction cases were heard, and 91% resulted in favorable outcomes for tenants. CLA looks forward to bringing this vital service to Berkeley and Dorchester county residents and expanding upon its promise to offer affordable legal services to all.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us expand Housing Court to Berkeley and Dorchester counties. As a nonprofit law firm, we rely on community support to keep our doors open and fees low. Together, we are expanding access to justice.
About Charleston Legal Access
Charleston Legal Access is SC's first and only sliding-scale, nonprofit law firm. We provide affordable legal services at a price that those of moderate means can afford. Hourly rates are determined on an individual basis by a client's income and family size. Our initial screening and phone consultations with an attorney are completely free. In-person, 1-2 hour case consultations and limited assistance sessions are available for a flat fee of $50-$100. For more information please visit www.charlestonlegalaccess.org.
With client fees only making up 15% of our operational budget and a rise in demand for services, we are seeking like-minded partners to support our cause. Help us expand access to justice and legal representation by making a tax-deductible donation below.