Over the past 7 years, Stout has had extensive experience addressing questions related to fiscal impacts arising from social policy. In 2015, Stout was retained by the New York Bar City Association’s Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee to conduct cost-benefit analyses for the expanded representation of low-income tenants in eviction cases. This analysis and report contributed to landmark legislation guaranteeing access to counsel for all tenants facing eviction in New York City. Stout conducted similar analyses for the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Civil Gideon and Access to Justice Task Force, contributing to Philadelphia’s passing of historic right to counsel legislation. In 2019, Stout worked with the Los Angeles Right to Counsel Coalition to develop an economic impact report to be used in its advocacy with city and county legislators. In 2020, Stout worked with the Public Justice Center and a coalition in Baltimore to analyze the costs and benefits of an eviction right to counsel in Baltimore and Maryland. In 2021, Stout worked with Community Legal Aid Society Inc. and a coalition in Delaware to analyze the costs and benefits of an eviction right to counsel. Also in 2021, Stout worked with a coalition of legal aid providers in Pennsylvania to measure the costs of providing an eviction right to counsel across the state. In 2022, Stout completed analyses and reports for a coalition in New York State (outside New York City), Detroit, South Carolina, and Miami-Dade. Stout’s published reports are available at Stout’s Eviction Right to Counsel Resource Center.

In each of these studies, Stout uses data available from the local jurisdiction, qualitative and quantitative information and research from local stakeholders, and data, information and research from other jurisdiction that are reasonable to apply in the subject jurisdiction. Based on the constellation of data Stout collects, it develops reasonable estimates of the fiscal consequences of the policy and provides additional context about additional impacts that could not yet be reliably estimated. Stout’s reports each provide transparency regarding the limitations of available data and the manner of estimation required to develop reasonable conclusions. Each report reflects the use of imperfect information drawn together to demonstrate a reasonable set of expectations regarding the impact of trauma faced by individuals and families in crisis, the reasons such crises arise, and the manner in which jurisdictions respond to these crises with social services.

In mid-2020, Mr. Steinkamp developed innovative analyses of tenant household instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and estimates of how that instability could result in an unprecedented number of evictions in states throughout the country. Stout’s research and analyses have been cited in local and national publications, including, but not limited to, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNBC, Reuters, Forbes, Politico, and Bloomberg, and was referenced in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention September 4, 2020 Order enacting a historic nationwide eviction moratorium in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stout’s relevant work includes:

• Detroit
  • Stout’s work was funded by the Rocket Community Fund
  • Detroit passed an eviction right to counsel subsequent to the completion of Stout’s report
  • The Estimated Economic Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Detroit
• Baltimore
  • Stout’s work was funded by the Abell Foundation
  • Baltimore (and the state of Maryland) passed an eviction right to counsel after the publication of Stout’s report
  • The Economic Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Baltimore City
• Philadelphia
  • Philadelphia passed an eviction right to counsel after the publication of Stout’s report
  • The Estimated Cost of Universal Access to Eviction Counsel in Pennsylvania
• New York City
  • New York City passed an eviction right to counsel after the publication of Stout’s report
  • Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee of the New York City Bar Association
• New York (Outside New York City)
  • Stout’s work was funded by the NY RTC Coalition
  • Legislation currently proposed
  • The Estimated Cost of an Eviction Right to Counsel Outside of New York City
• Pennsylvania
  • Legislation currently being considered
  • The Estimated Cost of Universal Access to Eviction Counsel in Pennsylvania
• Delaware
  • Stout’s work was funded by the Vision Grants Program, a partnership of the Delaware Community Foundation and Philanthropy Delaware
  • Legislation pending
  • The Economic Impact of an Eviction Right to Counsel in Delaware
• Los Angeles
  • Legislation currently being considered
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Providing a Right to Counsel to Tenants in Eviction Proceedings

Stout has ongoing work related to eviction diversion, prevention, brief services and full representation (including a right to counsel) in jurisdictions throughout the country, including but not limited to: Chicago, Milwaukee, Connecticut, Cleveland, Chattanooga, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Oakland County (Michigan), Alaska, Ft. Wayne, Suffolk County (New York), Brooklyn, Indianapolis, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas. Stout has also assisted advocates, courts and others related to eviction diversion, prevention and representation in jurisdictions around the country including, but not limited to: New Orleans, Portland, Toledo, Atlanta, Harris County (TX), Nashville, Kansas City, Boston and Rhode Island.

As a consequence of this extraordinary breadth and depth of experience related to all facets of the eviction ecosystem, in jurisdictions throughout the country, and the innovative design, implementation and evaluation techniques he has developed, Neil Steinkamp is considered one of the nation’s pre-eminent experts on eviction and the programs designed to effectively and sustainably respond to eviction crises.