Tulsa's right to counsel pilot program faces uncertain future
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 25% of renter households in Tulsa are at risk of eviction.
“We have one of the highest eviction rates in the nation," said Eric Hallett, the Coordinator of Housing Advocacy for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. "Actually, we were found to have the 11th highest eviction rate in the nation."
A pilot program that provides those facing eviction the right to legal representation, is pushing back against the statistics.
Since the pilot program launched, an evaluation released by Stout estimates that Oklahoma County and Tulsa County have realized economic benefits of $6.3 million between August 2022 and June 2024.
Hallett says last year there were 13,700 evictions filed in Tulsa County. People and families facing eviction are not entitled to legal representation but due to the right to counsel pilot program, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma can provide representation to those who qualify, at no cost.
“We are trying to represent every person facing eviction that we can in certain zip codes. So, if you are a low-income person in Tulsa County and you live in one of our five zip codes that we have our program, we will do everything we can to make sure you have a lawyer in court representing you," said Hallett.
Based on the evaluation of the program, Stout found the related benefits to be a reduction of crimes due to the lack of shelter, employment stability, and less cost to taxpayers regarding resources for homelessness.
“People tend to lose everything they own, including their jobs, and their cars, in addition to becoming homeless. It also exacerbates the problem we’re having with chronic absenteeism," Hallett added.
Currently funded by a $2.4 million grant, courtesy of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hallett says the program has been successful. However, come December the funding from HUD will run out and it will be up to the city to decide what happens to the program.
"If they don’t want to take up this program it will mean a lot of people go without representation and it’s really tough for someone who doesn’t know the legal process to have to represent themselves. They end up getting strong-armed in the hallway and signing bad agreements. They end up being evicted unfairly. So, it’s really important for everyone to have representation since eviction has so many consequences that come with it," Hallett said.