As millions of Texans continue to struggle with financial hardships brought on by mass layoffs and record job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston became one of the first major American cities to allow eviction proceedings to resume after the Texas Supreme Court lifted a temporary statewide moratorium on evictions in May. While the federal CARES Act continues to prohibit evictions for federally-backed properties through August 2020, thousands of Texans have faced unlawful utility shutoffs, lockouts and self-help evictions that have left residents fleeing their homes or unable to simply wash their hands or do laundry in the midst of a public health crisis, adding an unimaginable burden to their lives.
Sharing these experiences, LSLA presents Faces of Eviction, a collection of stories focused on the impact of COVID-19 on housing for low-income Texans and the work our legal teams have been undertaking to help residents across our service area get through this unprecedented time. For Joseph, a Marine veteran, LSLA’s help meant getting his guitars back and being able to find a new place to live – without any rental debt, and without an eviction on his record. His story is shared here.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: Clarissa Ayala, cayala@lonestarlegal.org
