MADISON – Yesterday, Governor Tony Evers, in a press release forecasting his upcoming budget address on Wednesday February 15, announced his intention to create a Statewide Right to Counsel, which will provide no-cost legal representation for Wisconsin residents facing eviction. His budget proposal allocates $60 million over the biennium for this effort.
Representative Clancy (D-19), in his role as District 4 Milwaukee County Supervisor, authored a Right to Counsel for Milwaukee County that was signed into law this past July. He has been a champion of the Right to Counsel and released the following statement:
“Wisconsin’s residents will be well served by becoming the fourth state in the US to adopt a statewide Right to Counsel for people facing eviction. Every eviction has profoundly negative societal and personal costs that impact entire communities, from employment and educational disruption to elevated lead levels in children.”
The pilot program in Milwaukee County has generated encouraging preliminary data including:
- From September 1, 2021 – October 31, 2022, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee accepted 2,394 cases.
- 77% of clients with a goal of preventing an eviction judgment had that goal achieved by Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee.
- Approximately 71% of clients indicated there was a child in the household.
“These numbers mean families did not have to uproot their lives and children could stay in their classrooms. I’m grateful that Governor Evers heard and acted on the compelling data and the personal stories of the many residents – from across the country and now in Milwaukee County – that have already benefitted from this, and I’m confident that my colleagues and stakeholders across the state will advocate for this vital, efficient and highly successful program.”
