According to officials from the Essex County Trial Court Administrators Office, there are approximately 38,000 eviction actions filed annually in Essex County, and Newark’s share is the highest at 20,000.
Newark’s Office of Tenant Legal Services has begun providing pro bono legal representation to low income tenants facing eviction. OTLS coordinator Khabirah Myers, Esq. has met with and provided assistance to a number of residents since her hire in April. Myers is a Newark native and former city assistant corporation counsel who co-wrote the city’s Access to Free Legal Representation Ordinance.
The Office’s purpose is to protect the legal rights of low income Newark tenants facing unwarranted, potentially illegal, eviction by their landlords. Residents will receive services from a number of volunteer pro bono and Newark-based lawyers who have committed their resources to this initiative.
“In creating this office, we are working to strengthen our commitment to providing all Newark residents with quality affordable housing,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “We will not let abusive landlords have free reign to hound and harass tenants. The law mandates that corporations that own property have legal representation.”
Single tenants or families of rental units are eligible. The Office is based in Room 111, City Hall, located at 920 Kenneth A. Gibson Blvd. (and Broad Street) and the hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All residents interested should visit the office in person for a consultation.
Contact the Office of Tenant Legal Services at 973-733-3675 or via email at otls@ci.newark.nj.us for more information.