Richmond Public Library Works with Virginia Poverty Law Center to Provide Eviction Help
Walk into any public library, especially in urban areas and during extreme weather, and you will likely see customers who are unhoused and using the library for shelter. They may have been walking for hours and simply need a resting place in the air conditioning or heat. Some libraries offer food pantries, social workers, and substance abuse counselors as required, all of which can help those challenged by housing instability. Many customers have no safety net or support system, so they fall through the cracks when their life circumstances, health, or income become unstable.
The 2018 Emilio Estevez movie, “The Public,” highlighted this situation through a Hollywood lens, but it is the reality in many cities nationwide. Library staff frequently know these customers by name, as they are daily visitors. Housing insecurity has always been with us, but the pandemic exacerbated the situation.
When COVID hit in 2020, the housing dilemma became even more of a crisis. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued an eviction moratorium that took effect on September 4, and it was set to expire on December 31. The economy was struggling, many people’s jobs were at risk or lost, and people needed safe places to stay to lessen the spread of the virus. Congress extended the eviction moratorium through January 2021, and President Biden extended it repeatedly through July 2021. The federal government also provided more than $46 billion (about $140 per person in the U.S.) for emergency rental assistance. The eviction moratorium lapsed on July 31, but on August 3, the CDC announced a limited eviction moratorium through October 3 for renters living in communities experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, covering an estimated 80% of all U.S. counties and 90% of all renters.
According to data from the U.S. Census, there were at least 1.5 million fewer eviction filings while the moratorium was in effect. Once the moratorium was lifted, evictions surged across the country. Many library customers don’t have the resources or knowledge to fight evictions, leading to more unhoused community members.
Richmond Public Library (RPL) Law Librarian Charlie Schmidt reports that Richmond, Virginia, has one of the highest eviction rates in the country, as do several Virginia localities, so they have been focused on addressing the impacts of eviction and helping prevent evictions for quite a while. Many of their local government and community organizations have prioritized eviction prevention. Schmidt said, “I know housing instability is an issue in most localities. Unfortunately, in Richmond, it is systemic.”
The library partnered with the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) to help renters who face potential eviction. The program description explains the one-on-one guided assistance provided to library customers. During July and August, librarians and VPLC staff are available at the Main Library one morning, one afternoon, and one evening a week to assist renters who need help getting online, navigating resources on the internet, or printing forms to take to court.
The online assistance platform, called the Eviction Defense Center, was created by the Virginia Poverty Law Center. “It is designed to be simple to use on any smartphone or computer,” VPLC housing attorney Phil Storey, who heads the Eviction Defense Center, stated in an RPL press release about the site and the program. “But by making hands-on help and printing available at the library, the tool can serve more people with barriers to accessibility.”
The site is designed for users who don’t have legal expertise, and it breaks down the information from a practical perspective. It walks users through options that describe where they might be in the eviction process. The categories are:
- Fight my eviction
- Find a free legal aid attorney
- Understand the eviction process
- Read an eviction notice I got
- Find answers to other questions
There is a list of standard notices with links explaining what the notices mean, a sample copy, and the recommended next steps. There is also a glossary of terms that may be used in eviction communications. The site is available in English at FightMyEviction.org and in Spanish at NoDesalojo.org.
The library hosts “open hours” for customers to come in, meet with VPLC staff, get help using the online service, and have their questions answered about the eviction process. Library staff also point them to possible community resources, such as rent relief. Starting in August, Richmond Public Library will host open hours at other library locations around the city.
VPLC did a training/info session for library staff to learn more about the service. VPLC and the Library also work with other trusted community partners, such as churches and local non-profits, to get the word out about the service. Schmidt said they get many customers seeking housing and rental help. At the Law Library, it’s their most requested information. The library also partners with legal aid to host workshops on tenant/landlord law.
It is too early to gauge the program’s impact, but customer feedback has been positive. Lawyers from legal aid organizations often accompany tenants to court and help them find resources as needed As lawmakers and community activists struggle to provide ample affordable housing, the public library is providing free assistance to give customers the tools they need to find and keep safe housing in the community that is their home.
Tags: evictionhelp, evictionhelpatthelibrary, servingtheunhoused
