Protect the Rights of Tenants
Donation protected
THE CAUSE
We are building a nonprofit organization to help protect the rights of tenants in the United States and provide the resources, education and legal assistance to tenants across economic statuses. With the price of rent skyrocketing, people are more susceptible to homelessness, harassment and mistreatment by their landlords. Landlords, realtors, property managers and corporations lobby to protect their rights and create laws that aid them in removing families from their homes without proper representation.
People of all economic statuses are vulnerable. In most states, the courts are landlord friendly and in some states, the renters can be criminally prosecuted.
We are developing an organization that will provide access to legal documents, legal advice and representation to all tenants, regardless of income, throughout the United States. Whether you pay $500.00 a month in Arizona or Arkansas or $2000 in New York or California, you need to secure protection of your rights. The prospect of facing a landlord in a civil action is very possible. It is time to develop a lobby for tenants in America.
OUR GOAL
The initial cost is building out a robust website. The website will provide hundreds of fillable documents with state-specific laws and procedures. These documents have to be digitally created and hosted on a secure server. The website will contain built-in chat features and forums for discussions with state-specific attorneys. The forums will also serve as a place where communities can share information. We need to develop a backend to sign up attorneys that will appear at eviction hearings and volunteer attorneys that will provide legal advice.
A website this vast will cost between $6,000-10,000. In addition, we need $850.00 to file for the corporation and non-profit status. This is why we are here! With your help, we can make this happen. We need to be the change that we want to see.
WHO I AM AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME?
During my childhood, I witnessed my family go through numerous evictions and we moved around New York City boroughs to find affordable housing. I vowed to become an attorney and fight for people like my family. I’ve dedicated my legal practice to this cause since I graduated law school. In doing so, I have helped countless families obtain justice in ‘unjustice’ court by providing effective representation for free. We didn’t always win, but all the families felt they were heard; which is what we all want at the end of the day.
It is hard for un-represented tenants to overcome the fear of going into court alone, unarmed with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to effectively represent themselves in a pro-landlord environment. It's one of the main reasons people do not show up. We want to help give the citizens of this country a fighting chance.
In researching a case against a landlord, I came across stories of people across America facing unbelievable adversity in the court system; Americans of all economic statuses, race, and religious beliefs. This is an unbalanced, unfair fight. With your help, we can level the playing field by giving tenants access to documents, a support system, legal advice and representation that would otherwise be unattainable. Creating the non-profit organization and the website is an essential part of this battle. I am a tenant and I am also doing this to protect my family.
Why should you trust me?
Well, my dedication did not go unnoticed and is well documented by my awards and testimony from clients:
· Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education’s Top 50 Pro Bono Attorney
· Maricopa County Attorney of the Month, March 2015
· Tenants’ Rights New Attorney of the Year
· John P. Frank Advocate for Justice Award
"Best Attorney-she made the Difference!"
Client Review
-"Ms. Lewis called me back within minutes; spent time discussing my issue even before I asked to hire her; within minutes of speaking with her - she was on the phone to the Property Management Company. She kept me informed every step of the way and her knowledge and advice about tenant law was outstanding. And as a result, the Property Management Company completed changed. I got a copy of the lease, certain repairs were done and they responded instead of ignoring my requests. Without her, I know this would not have happened. "
MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE:
We see hundreds of people forced out of their home. Most of these people are too afraid to go to court or believe the courts will not protect them. In some of the cases we reviewed, a simple piece of evidence could have made the difference in a court proceeding. Even more disheartening is knowing that most of these proceedings are preventable with one word, knowledge.
You can help with that!
Take a look at some issues that made the news across the country.
DENVER, CO
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
ARKANSAS
NYC
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
The first and immediate way to help is to share this project.
The next and equally as important way to assist is to donate. We can't make this happen without you.
The final way to help is to share your story if you have one. If you were a victim of an eviction or injustice by a landlord, tell us your story.
We are building a nonprofit organization to help protect the rights of tenants in the United States and provide the resources, education and legal assistance to tenants across economic statuses. With the price of rent skyrocketing, people are more susceptible to homelessness, harassment and mistreatment by their landlords. Landlords, realtors, property managers and corporations lobby to protect their rights and create laws that aid them in removing families from their homes without proper representation.
People of all economic statuses are vulnerable. In most states, the courts are landlord friendly and in some states, the renters can be criminally prosecuted.
We are developing an organization that will provide access to legal documents, legal advice and representation to all tenants, regardless of income, throughout the United States. Whether you pay $500.00 a month in Arizona or Arkansas or $2000 in New York or California, you need to secure protection of your rights. The prospect of facing a landlord in a civil action is very possible. It is time to develop a lobby for tenants in America.
OUR GOAL
The initial cost is building out a robust website. The website will provide hundreds of fillable documents with state-specific laws and procedures. These documents have to be digitally created and hosted on a secure server. The website will contain built-in chat features and forums for discussions with state-specific attorneys. The forums will also serve as a place where communities can share information. We need to develop a backend to sign up attorneys that will appear at eviction hearings and volunteer attorneys that will provide legal advice.
A website this vast will cost between $6,000-10,000. In addition, we need $850.00 to file for the corporation and non-profit status. This is why we are here! With your help, we can make this happen. We need to be the change that we want to see.
WHO I AM AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME?
During my childhood, I witnessed my family go through numerous evictions and we moved around New York City boroughs to find affordable housing. I vowed to become an attorney and fight for people like my family. I’ve dedicated my legal practice to this cause since I graduated law school. In doing so, I have helped countless families obtain justice in ‘unjustice’ court by providing effective representation for free. We didn’t always win, but all the families felt they were heard; which is what we all want at the end of the day.
It is hard for un-represented tenants to overcome the fear of going into court alone, unarmed with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to effectively represent themselves in a pro-landlord environment. It's one of the main reasons people do not show up. We want to help give the citizens of this country a fighting chance.
In researching a case against a landlord, I came across stories of people across America facing unbelievable adversity in the court system; Americans of all economic statuses, race, and religious beliefs. This is an unbalanced, unfair fight. With your help, we can level the playing field by giving tenants access to documents, a support system, legal advice and representation that would otherwise be unattainable. Creating the non-profit organization and the website is an essential part of this battle. I am a tenant and I am also doing this to protect my family.
Why should you trust me?
Well, my dedication did not go unnoticed and is well documented by my awards and testimony from clients:
· Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education’s Top 50 Pro Bono Attorney
· Maricopa County Attorney of the Month, March 2015
· Tenants’ Rights New Attorney of the Year
· John P. Frank Advocate for Justice Award
"Best Attorney-she made the Difference!"
Client Review
-"Ms. Lewis called me back within minutes; spent time discussing my issue even before I asked to hire her; within minutes of speaking with her - she was on the phone to the Property Management Company. She kept me informed every step of the way and her knowledge and advice about tenant law was outstanding. And as a result, the Property Management Company completed changed. I got a copy of the lease, certain repairs were done and they responded instead of ignoring my requests. Without her, I know this would not have happened. "
MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE:
We see hundreds of people forced out of their home. Most of these people are too afraid to go to court or believe the courts will not protect them. In some of the cases we reviewed, a simple piece of evidence could have made the difference in a court proceeding. Even more disheartening is knowing that most of these proceedings are preventable with one word, knowledge.
You can help with that!
Take a look at some issues that made the news across the country.
DENVER, CO
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
ARKANSAS
NYC
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
The first and immediate way to help is to share this project.
The next and equally as important way to assist is to donate. We can't make this happen without you.
The final way to help is to share your story if you have one. If you were a victim of an eviction or injustice by a landlord, tell us your story.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nature Lewis
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ
Radi Lewis
Beneficiary
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