Services: Housing Law

In a community with tremendous need for help with housing questions, CLS turns no one away. Staff attorney Jeanne Merino and paralegal Victor Ramirez see clients both at evening clinics and on a walk-in basis. They are assisted by Stanford Law School students who participate in our advice and consultation sessions, interviewing and counseling tenants under the supervision of an attorney. Services include:

Advice and Information. CLS advises clients on their rights and responsibilities regarding eviction and threatened eviction, habitability, rents, Section 8 housing, discrimination, retaliation, and security deposits. Our office helps tenants write letters and complete documents. We attend inspections. Assistance from our office is on-going.

Brief Services. CLS writes demand letters, helps file answers in court, and negotiates with landlords and opposing counsels on behalf of clients. We frequently assist clients who represent themselves in unlawful detainer and in small claims court. CLS represents clients before the East Palo Alto Rent Stabilization Board.

CLS' Housing Program serves nearly 200 families with housing issues every year. Our victories include helping a family of four get their Section 8 Housing benefits after being wrongfully denied eligibility, negotiating the return of several security deposits improperly denied, and negotiating to keep families in their homes after eviction notices.

Community Outreach and Education. CLS is available to do presentations in English and Spanish on topics ranging from how to get a security deposit back to how to work with your landlord and other tenants in your apartment building to reduce habitability problems.

Referral. We refer individuals to social service organizations or other legal agencies where additional assistance is needed.