As we reflect upon the holiday season, we are reminded of the importance of having safe and stable housing where families and friends can gather. This is particularly more daunting than ever for low-income Floridians who are facing increased housing instability resulting from impacts of the ongoing global pandemic as they face looming evictions or unsafe living conditions.

The expiration of state-wide pandemic eviction moratoriums in June 2020 has led to an increase in the number of eviction filings according to most news research sources. It is predicted that at least half of these filings will result in actual evictions.  According to Eviction Lab, a Princeton University eviction data research project, Florida has the fourth highest rental population in the nation — approximately 7 million people – while scoring lower in tenant support and preservation measures.[1]

Each class of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Leadership Academy is called upon to develop a class project as part of the academy’s curriculum, with the goal that the project will assist in helping to improve the legal profession for not only Florida attorneys but all of those who reside in the State of Florida. This year, Class IX has committed to highlighting the importance of pro bono service in the legal profession by encouraging all members of The Florida Bar to increase their participation in pro bono work. In doing so, Class IX’s project strives to not only emphasize the positive impact that pro bono service has on attorneys but the importance to the community at large. Given the current state of affairs in the rental housing market, the need for pro bono service in the areas of tenant rights and eviction defense is more important than ever. As such, Class IX would like to bring awareness to this need as part of its class project.