Omaha looks to add tenant right to counsel

12/29/2022, Miscellaneous, Housing - Evictions

In 2022, the Omaha City Council approved an affordable housing action plan with right to counsel language:

 

Current programs, like the Tenant Assistance Project (TAP) should be expanded. TAP provides legal assistance to tenants in Douglas County Eviction Court. Since 2020 this program has been partially funded by COVID relief dollars. These efforts could be expanded to include a tenant right to counsel. This would require a change in city ordinance. Additionally, legal counsel should be more broadly available and free for tenants. If solutions to avoid eviction can be identified, it is a win for both the landlord and the tenant.

 

Approval of the plan and its irght to counsel components was covered by WOWT and the Omaha World-Herald.