Legal Aid provides help for tenants

Legal Aid provides help for tenants
Legal Aid of Nebraska
July 28th, 2021 | KRVN News

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s Eviction Moratorium, which has kept thousands of Nebraska families
impacted by COVID-19 in their homes over the past nine months, is ending July 31, 2021. At the same time,
there remain thousands of these tenants in Nebraska still struggling to pay rent and at risk of eviction. Legal
Aid, Nebraska’s statewide provider of free civil legal services, wants these renters and their community
supporters to know, despite the end of the CDC moratorium, legal and financial help is available. The CDC
confirms it is the final extension of the moratorium and there will not be another.

Legal Aid expects eviction filings in court to increase as the CDC moratorium lifts. Scott Mertz, Managing
Attorney of Legal Aid’s Housing Justice Project, states that despite the CDC moratorium ending, tenants can
use other legal rights and rental assistance to prevent evictions.

“Our Housing Justice Project focuses on preventing families from losing their homes. These Nebraskans have
legal rights, but we know that having an attorney is critical in preventing evictions,” said Mertz. “Throughout the
pandemic, Legal Aid attorneys across Nebraska have helped renters and their families stay in their homes.
And even with the lifting of the moratorium, tenants at risk of being evicted can contact Legal Aid.”

Mertz emphasized that acting as soon as any problems with rent or a landlord come up is critical. “It is always
best if a tenant reaches out to Legal Aid as soon as they realize that, due to being behind in rent, eviction is
possible. We are here to help, and there are many ways tenants can work with landlords and the courts.”

Rental assistance, which can pay back rent and help prevent evictions, is very much still available. The CDC
Moratorium helped stop landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent through July 31, 2021, but it did
not remove tenants’ obligation to pay rent. Right now, millions of dollars of rental financial assistance are still
available to help financially struggling tenants in Nebraska. Tenants can receive up to 12 months of back rent
and 3 months of future rent. Tenants can apply online for rental and utility financial assistance, depending on
where the tenants live (Omaha, Lincoln, or across Nebraska), but this funding may only be available through
August 2021. Several organizations are also offering help with applying for rent and utility assistance, including
workshops where individuals can go for help in filling out the necessary paperwork to apply.

Legal Aid knows there are some delays with the processing of rental assistance applications. The application
process requires communication between the landlord and tenant, with both agreeing to the process. “We
know that there is a backlog of applications and that can be frustrating, but we ask landlords and tenants to try
and be patient and work through the process. By working together, we can keep more Nebraskans in their
homes which is so vital for many reasons” Mertz said.

“We have worked with many tenant clients who have received thousands of dollars in rental financial
assistance, and landlords are made whole,” said Milo Mumgaard, Legal Aid’s Executive Director. “Nebraskans
who are struggling with rent and utilities can take advantage of these programs — they exist to ensure
families impacted by the pandemic and its economic fallout can keep a roof over their heads and have
confidence they can pay the bills. We know that for many low-wage essential workers, the pandemic is still far
from over as they work to dig themselves out of financial holes, while continuing to ensure their families are
taken care of.”

Resources that are available to tenants, including how to apply for Legal Aid and how to access rental and
utility financial assistance, along with a full listing of civil legal services offered through Legal Aid of Nebraska,
can be found at our website: www.legalaidofnebraska.org

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