Right to Counsel
The Right to Counsel program ensures that all low-income Detroiters have the legal representation they need to remain housed, thrive in their communities, and achieve housing stability through in-court advocacy and ongoing tenant support.
About Right to Counsel
The Right to Counsel (RTC) program guarantees free legal representation for low-income Detroit renters facing eviction or housing-related legal disputes in the 36th District Court. Established to address the inequities in the landlord-tenant legal system, RTC levels the playing field by ensuring tenants have access to the same legal protections often available to landlords.
Who We Help
The Right to Counsel program assists low-income Detroit renters facing:
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Eviction proceedings, including nonpayment of rent or termination of tenancy.
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Housing quality disputes, such as unsafe living conditions or landlord neglect.
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Retaliatory actions or illegal rent increases.
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Loss of housing subsidies, including Section 8 or other voucher programs.
How Right to Counsel Works
The Right to Counsel (RTC) program ensures that low-income tenants in Detroit facing eviction or other housing-related legal challenges have access to free, high-quality legal representation.
Here's how the program works:
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Meeting Tenants Where They Are – At Court
If you have a hearing scheduled at the 36th District Court, our team is there to help. Right to Counsel staff and attorneys are available on-site to provide immediate assistance, including:-
Guidance on Your Case: Offering advice on court procedures and your legal rights.
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Eligibility Screening: Determining if you qualify for RTC services based on your income and case details.
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Legal Representation: Assigning an attorney to represent you during your hearing, if eligible.
Look for our Right to Counsel representatives near the landlord-tenant division of the court. This on-site support ensures that no tenant has to face eviction proceedings alone.
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Initial Consultation
Potential clients can reach out before their court date via phone or in person. Our intake process gathers essential details about your case, including documents like notices, leases, and payment records. -
Representation or Advice
Based on your case, an attorney may provide:-
Full representation in court proceedings.
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Legal advice to help you prepare if full representation isn’t available.
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Additional Legal Services
Beyond eviction cases, RTC attorneys also assist with housing-related legal matters, including:-
Unsafe housing conditions and repair disputes.
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Illegal rent increases or retaliatory landlord actions.
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Terminations of housing subsidies or public housing disputes.
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Follow-Up and Tenant Education
After court, the RTC program continues to support tenants by:-
Advocating for fair resolutions, such as payment plans or repairs.
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Educating tenants on their rights and responsibilities to help prevent future housing issues.
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Eligibility for Right to Counsel
To qualify for free legal assistance under the Right to Counsel program, tenants must:
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Be facing eviction in the 36th District Court in Detroit.
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Meet low-income eligibility guidelines.
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Be involved in a landlord-tenant dispute or housing-related issue, such as unsafe conditions or subsidy loss.
If you are unsure about your eligibility, contact us for assistance.
Need Help? Contact Us!
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UCHC Main Office: (313) 963-3310
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Writ Hotline: (313) 725-4646
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Immediate Shelter Assistance: Call CAM Detroit at (313) 305-0311
We’re here to support you.
What to Bring to Your Court Hearing
To ensure that we can provide the best support during your case, please bring the following documents with you to court:
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Complaint, summons, notice to quit, or demand for possession
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Lease, land contract, or other tenancy agreements
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Recertification documents for Section 8 housing (if applicable)
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Receipts for rent payments (e.g., money orders or bank deposit slips)
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Receipts for repairs (if relevant to your case)
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Correction orders from the City of Detroit Building and Safety Division (BSEED)
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Photographs of any health or safety hazards
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Utility bills and payment receipts (if part of your case)
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Any other documents related to your tenancy or housing
Right to Counsel Impacts
By ensuring legal representation for tenants, the RTC program creates lasting benefits for individuals and the broader community:
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Significantly reduced eviction rates: Tenants represented by RTC attorneys are more likely to remain in their homes, avoiding displacement and the destabilizing effects of eviction.
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Promotion of fair housing practices: RTC ensures landlords follow housing laws, reducing discrimination and unfair treatment.
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Improved tenant well-being: Stable housing leads to better mental and physical health, reduced stress, and increased financial stability.
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Strengthened communities: By preventing evictions, RTC helps to reduce homelessness, protect neighborhoods, and lessen the burden on emergency services.
Right to Counsel Impacts
By ensuring legal representation for tenants, the RTC program creates lasting benefits for individuals and the broader community:
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Significantly reduced eviction rates: Tenants represented by RTC attorneys are more likely to remain in their homes, avoiding displacement and the destabilizing effects of eviction.
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Promotion of fair housing practices: RTC ensures landlords follow housing laws, reducing discrimination and unfair treatment.
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Improved tenant well-being: Stable housing leads to better mental and physical health, reduced stress, and increased financial stability.
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Strengthened communities: By preventing evictions, RTC helps to reduce homelessness, protect neighborhoods, and lessen the burden on emergency services.
A Community-Driven Initiative
The RTC program is part of a growing national movement to ensure housing justice for low-income renters. Since its launch in Detroit, the program has successfully helped tenants stay housed, advocated for improved tenant rights, and reduced housing inequity.
By ensuring access to high-quality legal representation, RTC helps Detroit renters remain rooted in their homes and neighborhoods, fostering stability for families and the community at large.
Tenant Rights Education
The RTC program goes beyond legal representation by empowering Detroit renters with knowledge of their rights. Through workshops, outreach events, and printed resources, tenants learn about:
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Housing laws and protections under Michigan law.
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How to recognize and report landlord retaliation or harassment.
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Steps to maintain or restore housing subsidies.
Knowledge is a powerful tool in preventing evictions and ensuring safe, stable housing.
Advocating for Systemic Change
United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC) was instrumental in making Detroit the first city in Michigan to guarantee a Right to Counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction. As a key stakeholder and leader in this historic effort, UCHC helped lay the groundwork for the program by helping organize the Detroit Eviction Right to Counsel Summit in 2019. This summit brought together city officials, housing advocates, legal experts, and community organizations to explore strategies for addressing Detroit’s housing crisis and creating a path toward housing justice.
Through tireless advocacy and collaboration, UCHC worked with partners to secure funding, shape policies, and establish the framework for Detroit’s Right to Counsel program. The result is a groundbreaking initiative that has significantly reduced evictions, promoted housing stability, and ensured that tenants have the legal resources they need to protect their rights.
Ongoing Advocacy Efforts
Building on this success, UCHC continues to advocate for the expansion of Right to Counsel laws across Michigan. By partnering with local governments, housing advocates, and community stakeholders, UCHC is working to ensure that housing is recognized as a fundamental human right and that tenants statewide have access to the justice they deserve.