To help bring these numbers down to zero, Escape Eviction intervenes at an early stage and achieves powerful results. We provide practical help that allows families to stay in their homes and make informed decisions. One way that we achieve this is by providing funds to help families pay their rent and other essential bills. Moreover, we provide access to free legal help and tenants’ rights guidance when it matters most. We also implement an essential item delivery service that donates furniture and other items to families in need.
Case Studies:
(To uphold privacy, clients’ names are not revealed)
A Student in Need.
A college student fell behind on a single month’s rent, received an eviction notice, and felt the floor drop beneath him. We assisted in collecting his lease, payment history, and legal paperwork. We then helped him create a repayment plan related to his paycheck and financial aid disbursements. In addition, we provided key communication strategies for him to follow when engaging his landlord. Lastly, we connected the student with a temporary rental help program to pay off the balance. As a result, this missed payment was just a temporary disruption, not the end of the student’s housing.
Four Children. A Date in Eviction Court. No Time to Lose.
The parents were provided with emergency funding to cover back rent and late fees within 48 hours of receiving an eviction notice. We also connected the parents with free legal aid, which reviewed their lease and explained their rights before the hearing. This was important because, in Dallas, tenants with legal representation lost eviction cases just 7% of the time – while tenants without lawyers lost nearly 70% of the time. We also assisted these parents in organizing a timeline of payments, notices, and communication to bring to court. These efforts resulted in a flexible repayment plan – and kept this family housed.
No Furniture? No Problem.
We hold donation drives to collect clothing, furniture, and appliances. Then, we deliver them to families. One example of our efforts occurred when a family moved into an apartment without a bed, table, and basic appliances. Within a week, we were able to obtain mattresses, winter coats, a small couch, and other requested items. The family was able to use these donations immediately thanks to our volunteers who both delivered and unpacked them.
Keeping the Lights On.
After an unforeseen medical expense, an elderly neighbor on a fixed income had to choose between paying her rent or her utilities. We met with her and created a plan to subsidize her overdue electricity and gas balances to prevent disconnection. We also helped her apply for ongoing energy assistance interventions and a utility exemption due to medical hardship. Just one payment blocked an avalanche of losses – and our client remains safely in her home.