Pandemic legal aid funding to end for Michigan renters

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Government money issued during the COVID pandemic to provide legal aid to people in danger of losing their homes is running out.

“People underestimate the importance of housing and the impact that keeping people housed does play in society. And so, I think programs like this are important so that more people stay housed,” said Billie DeShone, a Lansing attorney who says there is a need for programs that provide legal aid to Michiganders facing eviction.

Renters either still need to catch up on rent, haven’t found jobs that pay enough to meet their payments, or to pay on time. However, this federal aid helped level the playing field between renters and their landlords.

Thousands of Michiganders throughout the state could face eviction from their homes without proper legal representation. This comes as federal pandemic relief money, part of over $1 billion used for legal aid is running out.

“If they’re brought to court and there’s no chance that they’re going to be able to pay rent and maybe they don’t have any defense it’s about trying to minimize the negative impact it could have on them,” said DeShone.

DeShone, an attorney with Legal Services of South Central Michigan which received the funding says there are several reasons her clients haven’t recovered from the pandemic.

“The majority of people that I see are issues stemming from 2021 and onward. It’s mostly pandemic related they lost jobs and are still trying to get back on their feet as far as bills go,” said DeShone.

Michigan State Bar Foundation reports more than 28-thousand evictions were avoided from 2020 to 2023.

“It’s costly to do an eviction and takes a lot of time to do an eviction,” said attorney Matthew Paletz of Paletz Law.

Paletz represents landlords across the state. He says getting legal aid doesn’t mean tenants won’t be evicted and the remaining funds should be used for payment.

“Giving them assistance so that they can help pay their bills, especially in these tumultuous times that by the way is also affecting the landlords,” said Paletz.

DeShone says the funds helped landlords and tenants settle before court hearings. Agreeing to payment plans, helping renters understand their rights which kept them in their homes.

“Having an attorney for the tenants can help prevent one from going to trial on so many issues. Two, keep more tenants so there’s also less vacant places so landlords are getting more money,” said DeShone.

A potential eviction could result in homelessness or school disruption for children, making it harder for people to find housing in the future or giving them little to no option.

The program is the first of its kind in Michigan to help prevent evictions during the pandemic. The future of this kind of statewide funding remains unclear.

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