Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Rochelle M. Fedullo released the following statement in reaction to yesterday’s passage by the Philadelphia City Council of the fiscal year 2020 budget, including $1.5 million for a low-income tenant legal defense fund:
“The Philadelphia Bar Association commends the Philadelphia City Council for including $1.5 million in the city’s fiscal year 2020 budget for a legal defense fund to represent low-income tenants facing eviction.
We’re immensely proud of the report by Stout Risius Ross, LLC, that we commissioned and released in 2018, which found that by funding counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction, the city would realize significant savings in shelter, mental health and other services.
The City Council’s commitment to fund representation of low-income tenants facing eviction makes our city a better place to live for all Philadelphians.”
