KC’s right to counsel hasn’t started yet. What to know about evictions happening now
Evictions have proceeded throughout Kansas City’s second pandemic winter, and local organizations that help tenants say they are still receiving high numbers of calls from people looking for help to stay in their homes.
Although Kansas City Council passed a law in December that will allow tenants in jeopardy of being evicted the right to legal counsel, it won’t go into effect until June.
In the meantime, organizations like the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom are working to connect tenants with information that can help them figure out what options they have in a stressful housing situation.
“During the whole pandemic…we’ve been working around the clock and feeling overwhelmed with eviction cases,” said Gina Chiala, executive director of the Heartland Center. “Even though the numbers have somewhat gone down from pre-pandemic levels.”
Last year, Jackson County put evictions on hold for most of January, because of concern from the presiding judge about county employees’ safety while carrying out evictions and after advocacy from KC Tenants. That eviction ban prevented evictions from being carried out, but not from being filed in the courts. There was no kind of similar ban put in place this year.
So, how many people are at risk of losing their homes through eviction in Kansas City, and what resources are available?
Evictions have started in 2022
This graphic shows the the number of evictions filed in Kansas City each week. The bar graph shows that January 2022 has seen fewer evictions filed in comparison to the past two years.
However, the graph also shows that there has been an uptick in cases filed since the year started. There were 15 evictions filed after the new year, but on the week of January 9, there were 47 cases filed. This is normal, as courts often hold off evictions during the holiday week.
Chiala said the Heartland Center has definitely felt the recent uptick in eviction filings through its call volume.
“Even though [the] graph shows the numbers went down during the pandemic, you can see they never stopped,” she said.
Resources for those who need housing help
The Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom has created the Tenant Problem Solver tool to help tenants access vital information about Missouri’s housing laws.
“The Tenant Problem Solver is an interactive guide for Missouri tenants to access specific legal information about their situation and point them to a toolkit that speaks directly to their issue,” the organization wrote in a press release on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
The tool can offer advice about what to do if your landlord locks you out or raises your rent, if you need a repair, need your security deposit back or even if you’re facing eviction.
To use the tool, first click through the link above and select “next.” Then provide your name, contact information, and a few details like your landlord’s name, your ZIP code and your occupation. This info will only be used internally by the Heartland Center for research purposes and to connect you with more relevant information. Next, navigate through the tool by choosing the options that best apply to your situation.
Depending on your circumstances, the tool may inform you of local housing law or direct you to a facts sheet published by the Heartland Center. Tenant toolkits containing important legal information are already available on the organization’s website, covering topics like notices to vacate, inability to pay rent and more. These toolkits apply to the state of Missouri only.
How else can I get help with issues in my rented home?
The Heartland Center is still operating its legal help hotline, which receives an average of 25 calls per day from tenants seeking advice and assistance navigating Missouri’s housing laws. You can contact the hotline by calling 816-278-1344.
Here’s what to do if you receive a notice to vacate your rented home in Kansas City. If you and your neighbors are all facing problems, here’s how to get started forming a tenant union.
Legal Aid of Western Missouri also provides legal services for those who are facing eviction. Tenants can call 816-474-6750 to learn more.
KC Tenants, the citywide tenant union, has a crisis hotline at 816-533-5435.
The Douglas County Legal Aid Society is also available to help those in need of counsel. Call 785-864-5564 or visit their website to learn more.
Other resources include Kansas City’s rental assistance and fair housing initiatives. To learn more, tenants in Kansas City can call 816-513-3026.
Do you have other questions about housing or something else? You can ask our reporters at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 2:22 PM.
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