Eviction Education & Tenant Rights in Allegheny County: RentHelpPGH at City of Bridges High School

RentHelpPGH’s Mediation Resource Navigation Program Manager, Mairead, joined class at local high school City of Bridges for a discussion of how themes from Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (2016) by Matthew Desmond impact the residents of Allegheny County.

Eviction education presentation by RentHelpPGH for high school students in Allegheny County discussing tenant rights and housing resources

Students in the Sociology: Wealth, Power and Prestige course recently finished reading Desmond’s ethnography following eight families in Milwaukee as they struggle through housing instability and poverty. The book is a point of inspiration for RentHelpPGH’s mission.

Mairead presented to the class about the basics of subsidized housing (what types of subsidies exist, who can qualify, and challenges tenants in subsidized housing may experience), the eviction process, and rights tenants can maintain along the way.

The students asked fantastic and curious questions, including:

• How long is the waiting period to receive a Housing Choice Voucher?

• The book described a lot of illegal evictions, do those happen here?

• Does an eviction show up on a tenant’s record?

• If a landlord wins the hearing, how do they get the money owed back from the tenant?

One student asked an incredibly insightful question about how people with fluctuating income (like a waitress who makes mostly cash tips) could verify that income, especially if it changes drastically week to week. Income verification is typically needed to determine eligibility and rent amounts for subsidized housing. The question reveals the challenges that people with unpredictable incomes may face when accessing services designed to support them.

Students offered some key takeaways at the end of class: "attend your hearing," "read your lease,” “don’t give up your right to a Notice to Quit," and “keep your rent receipts!” among them.

The inquisitiveness, interest and engagement that these students brought to the conversation was electric. We are excited to know that a new generation is better equipped to navigate the housing landscape as well-informed tenants-to-be.

If you know a group who would like to hear more about subsidized housing, eviction processes, or tenant’s rights in Allegheny County, we would love to connect with you. Please reach out to Tiffany@RentHelpPGH.org or Stefanie@RentHelpPGH.org