Raleigh City Council Partners with Campbell Law School to Provide Eviction Assistance to Residents
Raleigh City Council today approved funding for a partnership with Campbell University School of Law to serve low-income Raleigh residents who are facing eviction and homelessness. The “City of Raleigh Housing Justice Project with Campbell Law School” will be a legal clinic run by lawyers and law students.
Today’s Council action provides $300,000 in funding ($100,000 per year for three years) from the American Rescue Plan Act. Funding will support the clinic’s mission to provide advice and counsel as well as legal representation to eligible Raleigh residents in eviction proceedings. Eligible residents must live in Raleigh and be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Campbell Law School Dean J. Rich Leonard presented the partnership proposal during today’s City Council meeting.
“The City of Raleigh is proud to partner with Campbell Law School to meet the needs of those facing eviction or housing insecurity,” said Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Stewart. “This new resource will address a core need in our comprehensive approach to address housing affordability, supply and stability.”
The partnership will be a part of the Blanchard Community Law Clinic, (BCLC) which has served more than 1,200 clients since opening in 2016.
“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Raleigh on this important initiative,” said BCLC Director Ashley Campbell. “There is enormous need for housing legal services in Raleigh, and the Housing Justice Project is a step forward in meeting that need.”
The Housing Justice Project will be located in downtown Raleigh on Martin Street and is expected to open in late summer.
“Addressing our community's housing needs is one of the City's top priorities," said At-Large City Council Member Jonathan Melton. "This exciting partnership with Campbell Law School will help ensure that individuals and families who are most at risk have the support and resources they need to stay in their homes."
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. In 2021, Campbell Law celebrated 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 12 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.
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