Municipal programs to distribute Emergency Rental Assistance in Durham have stopped accepting new applications. Many new households are now at risk of being evicted. Tenants have a right to appeal their eviction which allows community lawyers to represent them to get a better outcome. However, to appeal, the tenant must pay an appeal bond set by the Court. Most people in eviction court do not have money available to pay this bond.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Your contribution can help families pay their appeal bond. Write a check payable to “Lockamy Law Firm Trust Account” for any amount. In the memo line, please write “Durham Tenants Legal Power Fund”. Mail to: The Lockamy Law Firm 3130 Hope Valley Rd Durham NC 27707.
The pro-bono services of the Law Clinics of North Carolina Central University, Duke University, and Legal Aid will help tenants fill out the paperwork to appeal their eviction and then tap into this fund to pay the appeal bond. This fund is in a secure trust from which the Court accepts checks for tenant appeal bonds. Though a donation to this fund is not tax deductible, EVERY DOLLAR OF DONATED FUNDS goes directly to pay eviction appeal bonds at the Durham County Courthouse.
For more information, click here.
Or read this article.