Last year, Philadelphia released new “assessments” of property values, which are used to calculate property tax bills. If your assessed value went up, your property taxes will, too. Based on the current tax rate, for every $10,000 in increased value, your yearly tax bill will go up by $140. If you think your…
L to R: Rachel Labush, State Rep. Rick Krajewski, PHFA Servicing Director Kate Newton, & PHFA Counsel Steven O’Neill CLS attorney Rachel Labush testified before the House Finance Committee in Harrisburg on June 13, 2023 in support of HB 291, a bill that would help homeowners avoid foreclosures and avoid losing their homes at sheriff…
Information for homeowners when new construction begins next door In neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, residents’ homes are being affected by nearby demolition, renovation, and construction. A new city law provides new rights and information to residents about adjacent construction that is permitted after January 1, 2023. Below are frequently asked questions about your rights when development…
Following the success of initial rollout, low-income tenants in 19134 and 19144 zip codes are now guaranteed legal representation when facing eviction PHILADELPHIA – Starting February 1, 2023, low-income renters in Philadelphia zip codes 19134 and 19144 are entitled to free legal representation if they are facing eviction. Legislation providing for guaranteed legal representation, known…
This video gives you a glimpse into the work CLS’s staff attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and other advocates do every day so that people and their families in Philadelphia can access fundamental needs like housing, food, and employment. Hear from CLS advocates and clients about the lasting impact that CLS has had on them and…
You can now get live help every weekday at Community Legal Services! We are open for live in-person intake at our Center City and North Philadelphia offices as well as live telephone intake. CLS provides bilingual help or interpreters at no cost as needed. For a detailed list of issues we can help with, visit…
The COVID-19 pandemic has made our nation’s ongoing housing affordability crisis more apparent, while also exposing how little we know about it. Much of the data we rely on to assess housing affordability fails to capture challenges around housing stability, security, and quality. Further, while the nature of eviction as both a formal and informal…
For information in English ¿Qué es un título de propiedad enredado? Si usted vive en una casa que usted cree que es suya, que la trata y la paga como propia o que pudo haber heredado, pero su nombre no figura en la escritura, puede tener un título de propiedad enredado. Esto suele ocurrir…
Today, October 14, City Council unanimously passed the 2021-2022 Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program Statement and Budget to provide significant new funding for affordable housing, first time home buyers, home repair programs, small businesses, rental assistance, eviction prevention, and tangled title representation. Community Legal Services strongly supports this new funding. Michael Froehlich, Managing Attorney of CLS’s Homeownership and Consumer…
This report was written by Youth Justice Project inaugural Youth Action Board members, Deja Morgan, Alexi Chacon, and Madison Nardy. When the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, young people across the country became unemployed, had to adjust to a virtual learning environment, experienced loss, housing insecurity, and more with no clear…
