Description:

The Housing Pro Bono Project works with Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) to help renters with housing issues in the communities neighboring Stanford. Students work with CLSEPA staff to defend clients against eviction, discrimination, and illegal increases in rent, as well as to resolve habitability issues. The Bay Area is an expensive place to live, with many tenants spending >50% of their income on rent. This tilts the already inequitable landlord-tenant relationship in the landlord’s favor. Low-income housing is difficult to find, and landlords often do not maintain habitable apartments. Stanford students assist clients living in this area by providing them with legal advice from CLSEPA attorneys following intake interviews. Students often support clients by writing a demand letter to the landlord, assisting the client in contacting code enforcement, or even helping clients obtain judgments against their landlord in small claims court.

Commitment Required of Members:

We ask at a minimum that volunteers commit 4-6hr/quarter to assist with client intakes and associated follow-up work. This includes writing a memo about the case and possibly writing demand letters or preparing other documents. Students are welcome to exceed this minimum commitment, including by assisting clients in small claims court proceedings against their landlords. However, we will aim to balance work so that each volunteer is able to participate in the pro bono project.

Open Membership Spots: 22

Adv. Degree Student Participation: Permitted

Winter Start: Permitted; Fall Start Preferred

Eligible for Meeting NYS Bar Pro Bono Requirement: Likely

Language Ability Preference: None; Spanish Highly Valued

Project Leaders: Isabella Jackson-Saitz, David Millman, Michelle Phan