Social Science & Medicine Journal Publishes Report on Health Benefits of Legal Counsel for Tenants Facing Eviction 

By Ella Izenour, NLIHC Opportunity Starts at Home Intern and Julie Walker, NLIHC Project Manager, Opportunity Starts at Home 

Social Science & Medicine recently published an article, “Evictions, legal counsel, and population health: A mixed methods study.” The study investigates the impact of access to legal aid on the health outcomes of tenants facing eviction. The report draws on qualitative interviews with tenants who received legal assistance through Washington State’s Right to Counsel program and incorporates quantitative analysis of case outcomes related to tenants’ mental and physical health. The author finds that access to legal representation is associated with improved tenant health outcomes and broader well-being.  

The study concludes that legal representation can enhance both short- and long-term tenant health by fostering a sense of protection and empowerment during eviction proceedings. Even when right-to-counsel programs do not directly reduce eviction filings or judgments, they may still improve mental health by offering psychological support and stabilizing short-term housing. Additionally, interview responses indicate that tenants perceive health benefits, stemming from improved housing security and access to social services that address key social determinants of health.  

The article recommends expanding right-to-counsel programs, strengthening tenant protections, and supporting positive health outcomes. The author also calls for complementary policies that reduce eviction rates and empower tenants, thereby improving and addressing gaps in benefits provided by right-to-counsel programs. The “Eviction Crisis Act,” supported by the Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign, is one critical piece of legislation that would support increased landlord-tenant mediation services, reduce preventable evictions by stabilizing extremely low-income households that experience a sudden economic shock, and mitigate eviction’s consequences to prevent housing instability and homelessness.   

Read the article here.   

To learn more about the “Eviction Crisis Act,” read the OSAH fact sheet.