20/10/2025
Happy Pro Bono Week! Today, we're highlighting our housing law program! Read on to learn more:
The VLN Housing Program's volunteers represent tenants and some landlords in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka Counties. Volunteers represent tenants at their first appearance in court and sometimes through a trial of their case. Housing Program volunteers also represent tenants in their quest to have their evictions expunged.
At a Housing Court clinic, volunteers meet with clients-- most of whom are facing eviction. The volunteers assist those clients by determining if they have any defenses to the eviction and usually negotiating a settlement of the case with the landlord's attorney. In other cases, the volunteer may make a motion to dismiss and expunge the case or set the case for trial. Housing Court volunteers also assist clients with rent escrow cases where the tenant sues the landlord to complete repairs. Occasionally, our volunteers work with landlords, who live in the same home as their tenants, to evict the tenant. VLN provides Housing Court clinics in person in Hennepin County for six calendars a week, remotely in Ramsey County for three calendars a week, and remotely in Anoka County for three calendars a week.
