Housing

The need was overwhelming:

• Essex County courts saw over 40,000 eviction filings each year, with 200–300 cases listed on a typical court day.
• Tenants received their summonses only 10–20 days before hearings, giving them little time to prepare or seek help.
• 98% of tenants were (and still are) unrepresented, while most landlords have lawyers.
• Nearly half of tenants defaulted, losing their homes without ever appearing in court.

High eviction rates pushed families into shelters, into overcrowded or unsafe housing, or out of the state entirely. The clinic—approved by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2015 and launched in 2016—was created to help combat this crisis.

VLJ manages the clinic by conducting intakes, preparing client files and detailed memos for volunteers, supervising the clinic, and ensuring tenants receive meaningful support beyond the clinic. Lowenstein and Prudential lawyers have volunteered for the clinic every month since its inception, with a cadre of repeat volunteers that have developed deep expertise in landlord-tenant law.

Since its inception, we have provided legal services to more than 500 low-income tenants. Data shows more than two-thirds of clinic tenants either win the right to remain in their homes or secure additional time and funds to relocate.

The clinic has evolved over the last decade, moving from a court-based to a virtual clinic; however, the passion of the volunteers has been steadfast, and the convenors of the clinic have continued to think creatively about how to stem the eviction and housing affordability crisis they are witnessing in their local communities.

In 2020, clinic volunteers and other stakeholders helped form a statewide coalition of housing advocates to prevent mass eviction during the pandemic. The coalition continues to meet regularly and has driven significant policy change. Its work contributed to the drafting and passage of a 2021 law protecting low-, moderate-, and middle-income households from eviction and negative credit reporting for pandemic-related rental debt. Coalition members also served on a court-appointed committee where they advocated for and succeeded in obtaining major reforms to court rules, such as requiring landlords to provide leases and proof of registration when filing an eviction complaint.

The coalition has also promoted due process in eviction courts. A statewide study of eviction complaints revealed widespread noncompliance with state laws and court rules, leading to unjust eviction judgments. In response, coalition members collaborated with the judiciary and stakeholders to implement reforms, including a new, legally compliant standardized eviction complaint. The coalition routinely comments on and spearheads legislation or changes to court rules or landlord-tenant reforms/procedures on behalf of low-income tenants.

Together, these efforts reflect more than a decade of sustained commitment, pairing direct representation with systemic advocacy to protect tenants, strengthen due process, and promote housing stability. As we look to the years ahead, we remain dedicated to partnering with our community, our pro bono collaborators, and our clients to build a fairer, more just court process for all.

That commitment is perhaps best reflected in the words of one client, who shared the following about their experience: