Muscatine Legal Services

Funds will enable Muscatine Legal Services to conduct two in-office clinics in 2024. The clinics will match pre-screened indigent and low-income persons with volunteers who will provide free legal advice and support on landlord-tenant issues. Clients will receive face-to-face advice and direction on how to obtain repairs on a rental unit, face a forcible entry action, or defend an action for unpaid rent and/or damages to a rental property. The cost of legal advice is a barrier for low income tenants remaining in sub-standard housing, facing illegal evictions, and having civil money judgments brought against them. Each clinic will serve up to 10 people through five volunteers from the local bar and University of Iowa College of Law students. This will be a volunteer opportunity for the Citizen Lawyer Program at the University of Iowa.