$60K CARES Act Grant To Help HoCo Residents Facing Eviction

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Residents facing eviction due to the coronavirus pandemic can reach out to Maryland Legal Aid, which has received $60,581 in CARES Act funding. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said the grant will help provide the education, assistance and representation needed to prevent evictions in upcoming failure-to-pay rent proceedings.

“With the courts reopening this week, there is an immediate need for legal assistance to support tenants in demonstrating substantial loss of income-related to COVID-19,” Ball said in a statement. “We’ve seen more than 46,000 residents file for unemployment since March and there are many of our neighbors who are unable to afford private attorney assistance on top of their daily needs.”

MLA will provide in-court tenant assistance and representation, conduct virtual training and presentations to educate the public on tenants’ rights, and engage in community outreach and promote project services.

“With hundreds of thousands of Marylanders facing eviction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for legal assistance is dire,” said Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh. “On behalf of the Attorney General’s Access to Justice Covid-19 Task Force, we appreciate County Executive Ball’s efforts in providing support for these essential services.”

MLA’s range of legal assistance includes:

• Representing tenants at Failure-To-Pay Rent (FTPR) court hearings;
• Pursuing post-trial motions as appropriate to change or enforce court orders;
• Gathering documents or proof of rent payments for self-help tenants;
• Informing tenants about COVID-19 financial assistance available to tenants;
• Negotiating payment plans with landlords;
• Creating self-help packets and materials for ineligible tenants to use; and
• Creating a packet and materials to train volunteer attorneys on representing tenants in court.

The Howard County office of Maryland Legal Aid is located at 3451 Court House Dr. in Ellicott City.