Tenant Right to Counsel Prevents Homelessness

Last week, ads promoting the value of Eviction Defense Collaborative’s Tenant Right to Counsel (TRC) program went up in San Francisco’s Van Ness and Civic Center Muni stations. They were funded by ALRP and the Eviction Defense Collaborative with a contribution from BayLegal in an effort to educate the public on the cost effectiveness of TRC’s program in preventing homelessness.

These graphics highlight the importance, impact and cost-effectiveness of the Tenant Right to Counsel program in SF. During the past fiscal year, the TRC collaborative of nine organizations had a 93% success rate in the eviction lawsuits it handled. By keeping 1,539 households from being thrown on the street, the program saved taxpayers over $66 million that would otherwise have been incurred to provide shelter beds and pay for ambulance runs, emergency room visits, and other costs.

Clearly, the return on investment is compelling: Every dollar invested in the TRC program saves San Francisco nearly $9. We want to be sure everyone understands that cutting funding for TRC would be fiscally irresponsible, even while San Francisco is facing unprecedented financial challenges. Sadly, the program is needed now more than ever before: In January and February, eviction lawsuits were up 57% over the same period last year, the highest number in the last 12 years.