Housing Issues

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PAVictimsHelp.org

Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.

Tenants! Being Evicted?

Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network on the rights of tenants who are being evicted.

Eviction Process in Pennsylvania (Video)

Video from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services explaining the eviction process in Pennsylvania.

Eviction from Residential Property for Nonpayment of Rent

Informational chart from the Pennsylvania Bar Association outlining the steps in the eviction process in all Pennsylvania Counties except Philadelphia.

Know Your Rights as a Renter in Pennsylvania

This website from the Home Equality Center of Pennsylvania will help to guide you through a successful renting experience by providing general information and self-help resources regarding state and federal Fair Housing laws and Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Law as it pertains to the rental of private residential property.

Landlord’s Interference With a Tenant’s Right to Utility Service

Information from MidPenn Legal Services on a Tenant's rights regarding utility service in a rented residence. [PDF] (June 2011)

Landlord Tenant Handbook

Detailed information about renting a residence from a landlord from North Penn Legal Services (NPLS). Fair housing (housing discrimination) information is included throughout the entire handbook. There is a Lehigh Valley Edition and a Northeast PA Edition. NPLS revised the Landlord-Tenant Handbook in December 2019.

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

400 North Street Keystone Building Harrisburg, PA 17120

www.puc.state.pa.us/

This group does not provide legal representation in court.

Responding to Illegal "Self-Help" Evictions

There are several types of Residential Property Crimes that take place in Philadelphia. In every case, vulnerable citizens are victimized. However, sometimes it can be difficult to determine who the parties are and what is taking place. This video will go over how to identify and respond to an illegal “self-help” eviction.

Housing Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors

This classroom offers information from several sources on the housing rights of domestic violence survivors.

LIHTC Tenant Guide

This is a comprehensive tenants’ guide to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rentals from Regional Housing Legal Services, explaining the ins and outs of this important but not well-understood program. The guide is written for tenants who are searching for an affordable place to live as well as for residents of LIHTC properties. It helps applicants and current tenants understand special rules, like how rent is calculated, chiefly that it is not based on the tenant’s income, as well as what “good cause” eviction means.

PAHousingSearch.com

This is a free resource from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and other Commonwealth partners to help you find a home that fits your needs and budget. Property providers can list available apartments or homes at any time, which means the listings are current. The web site lets you define what you want in your next living space, and then it does all the research – presenting you with the relevant housing vacancies that best fit your parameters in the community where you want to live.

Federal Court Finder

Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.

How to File a Show Cause Order in Cambria and Indiana Counties (Video)

This video from Laurel Legal Services shows how residents of Cambria and Indiana Counties can file a show cause order when a landlord shuts off your utilities to try and evict you.

Eviction from Residential Property for Nonpayment of Rent

Informational chart from the Pennsylvania Bar Association outlining the steps in the eviction process in all Pennsylvania Counties except Philadelphia.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 included funding for states to establish Emergency Rental Assistance Programs (ERAP). ERAP is now taking applications. ERAP helps tenant households with paying rent, past-due rent balances (also known as arrears), utility and home energy costs, utility and home energy cost arrears, and other expenses related to housing.

Eviction Process in Pennsylvania (Video)

Video from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services explaining the eviction process in Pennsylvania.

Homeless Assistance Programs

Information on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services' Homeless Assistance Programs and services available to homeless and near homeless individuals and families.

Housing Navigator Unit (Allegheny County)

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services Housing Navigator Unit was established in 2018 to help homeless persons served by DHS find and maintain safe, affordable housing in the private market. The Housing Navigator Unit works toward this goal by recruiting and supporting landlords in the private market who rent to DHS tenants. The unit also works with the agencies charged with providing support services to the tenants. This public/private partnership aims to speed up access to private rental properties, improve communication and trust, resolve concerns and complaints, and increase accountability among all parties - the landlords, the service providers and the tenants.

PAHousingSearch.com

This is a free resource from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and other Commonwealth partners to help you find a home that fits your needs and budget. Property providers can list available apartments or homes at any time, which means the listings are current. The web site lets you define what you want in your next living space, and then it does all the research – presenting you with the relevant housing vacancies that best fit your parameters in the community where you want to live.

Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

Informational booklet on the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act that creates safeguards for consumers who hire contractors for home remodeling projects. [PDF]

CFPB Releases Online Tool to Help Renters and Landlords Access Federal Assistance

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released a new online tool to help renters and landlords impacted by the pandemic easily find and apply for payment assistance for rent, utilities and other expenses.

Housing Resources for Victims of Crime from PASafeLaw.org

Victims of crime often have a hard time finding or keeping housing. The following resources are intended to assist you in obtaining housing and avoiding an improper eviction.

Know Your Rights as a Renter in Pennsylvania

This website from the Home Equality Center of Pennsylvania will help to guide you through a successful renting experience by providing general information and self-help resources regarding state and federal Fair Housing laws and Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Law as it pertains to the rental of private residential property.

Trans Youth Handbook

This Handbook was created to help you learn about your legal rights in different areas of your life. The information in this Handbook should not be considered legal advice. This Handbook provides legal information but does not attempt to apply that information to any specific situation. This guide was up-to-date as of its release in June 2020. However, because laws affecting trans people are constantly changing, the information contained in this Handbook may not reflect the current legal situation where you live. You can click on the links below to access the different sections online. You can also access the entire handbook by clicking here You can also review Resources and Definitions, which lists additional helpful resources and definitions for the terms used in this Handbook. If you have a question about your specific legal situation, you should contact NCLR’s legal helpline by phone at (415) 392-6257 or (800) 528-6257. You can also contact the helpline by e-mail at info@nclrights.org.

How to File a Show Cause Order in Cambria and Indiana Counties (Video)

This video from Laurel Legal Services shows how residents of Cambria and Indiana Counties can file a show cause order when a landlord shuts off your utilities to try and evict you.

How to File a Show Cause Order in Cambria and Indiana Counties (Video)

This video from Laurel Legal Services shows how residents of Cambria and Indiana Counties can file a show cause order when a landlord shuts off your utilities to try and evict you.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 included funding for states to establish Emergency Rental Assistance Programs (ERAP). ERAP is now taking applications. ERAP helps tenant households with paying rent, past-due rent balances (also known as arrears), utility and home energy costs, utility and home energy cost arrears, and other expenses related to housing.

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