Stout was engaged by the New York Right to Counsel Coalition to perform an analysis of the cost associated with an eviction right to counsel for low-income tenants in eviction proceedings in New York (outside of New York City). Stout concluded that the benefits associated with providing right to counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction would likely be significant and far greater than the costs of providing representation.

Stout performed extensive research supporting the many fiscal benefits associated with providing legal representation for tenants facing eviction by reducing the trauma of the eviction process, enforcing tenants’ rights, remedying defective conditions, reducing the impact of housing displacement, and many other impacts reducing the need for a social services response to people facing crisis.

The cost savings realized will vary by jurisdiction due to the significant differences in funding sources, the social safety net responses available to people experiencing housing instability, and the cost of providing representation, which can vary even within a state. For this reason, certain specific cost-savings quantifications must be customized for each jurisdiction. However, historically, significant cost savings are related to emergency shelter costs, transitional housing and re-housing costs, emergency healthcare and other costs associated with homelessness, foster care costs, and impacts to the education system.

This independent analysis will be used by the New York Right to Counsel Coalition for its advocacy to expand the eviction right to counsel outside of New York City.