In Dallas, Texas, the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center (DEAC) fights to protect vulnerable tenants facing eviction, offering free legal services to those at risk of losing their homes. The center, which handles an overwhelming number of cases each month, is one of a kind in the country, providing crucial support for tenants in a city where eviction rates remain high.
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Legal Assistance at the Courthouse
Each day, as Dallas courtrooms fill with tenants facing eviction, lawyers from DEAC are on hand to assist those at risk. These brief moments before a judge enters are vital, allowing DEAC lawyers to review cases, ask crucial questions, and spot legal errors in eviction filings. They quickly craft defense strategies for vulnerable tenants, offering them a chance to stay in their homes.
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Barriers to Accessing Legal Aid
Though DEAC regularly sends out notifications to tenants, only about 4-5% respond, mainly due to a lack of legal knowledge, mistrust of lawyers, or missing documents. This leaves many tenants unaware of the support available to them until they’re in the courtroom, where DEAC lawyers actively step in to offer free representation…