Advocacy Wins
Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project (PEPP)
What is PEPP? In late 2017, City Council, the Mayor and legal services agencies partnered to create the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project (PEPP), an innovative project to assist tenants facing eviction through legal representation, financial counseling, a live hotline, a court help center, community trainings & educational materials. Community Legal Services leads PEPP in collaboration […]
Right to Counsel Advocacy
Tenants in zip codes 19121, 19134, 19139 and 19144 who make less than 200% of the federal poverty level are currently eligible for free representation in eviction cases through a program called Right to Counsel. Free legal help can be accessed by calling the Philly Tenant Hotline at (267) 443-2500. If you have an upcoming […]
Eviction Diversion
On September 1, 2020, the City of Philadelphia launched the Eviction Diversion Program, a groundbreaking initiative to help landlords and tenants come to agreements without having to go to Court.
Eviction Records in Philadelphia
The Renter’s Access Act November 2021 October 13, 2021 The Renter’s Access Act goes into effect today! For more information about your rights when applying for housing, read our article or review our flyer in English or en Español. July 15, 2021 The Renter’s Access Act passed City Council on June 24, 2021 and Mayor […]
Good Cause for All
Before 2019, a landlord could evict a tenant without providing a reason for the eviction. That changed when the tenant movement in Philadelphia won a victory in passing “Good Cause” legislation that requires landlords to give an approved reason for evicting a tenant.
Information for Advocates
If you are an organizer or caseworker, our quick links may be helpful.
Resource Library
The Resource Library is a collection of links to help you quickly access articles, flyers and laws relating to rental housing in Philadelphia.
Report: Trends and Challenges in the Philadelphia Rental Market
We are excited to share our report, Trends and Challenges in the Philadelphia Rental Market. CLS partnered with the Housing Initiative at Penn to produce a survey focused on four important issue areas: the rising cost of rent, the rate of illegal evictions, the effect of past eviction records on ability to secure quality housing, and the repair concerns that renters in the city are facing.
Report: COVID, Race and Housing
We are excited to share our report on COVID-19’s Impact on Race and Housing Security Across Philadelphia: Philadelphia Renter’s Report. This report tells the stories of Philadelphia renters, through visuals, statistics, and most importantly, through the words of Philadelphia renters themselves.