Homelessness Prevention Project

The Homelessness Prevention Project (HPP) focuses on the basic need for decent housing.  Many of Pisgah Legal Services' clients seek assistance because they are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.  Through HPP, PLS helps hundreds of low-income individuals and families obtain or preserve access to affordable, decent housing each year.

PLS provides legal aid to:

• Prevent eviction and foreclosure
• Improve substandard housing condition
• Obtain or preserve eligibility for housing subsidies

VIDEO:

PLS attorney Robin Merrell explains how PLS prevents homelessness. 

Video:

PLS attorney Shelley Pew Brown explains how PLS improves substandard housing. 

Success Story

PLS helps family move from unsafe housing

Sienna and Jasmine were living with their parents in a mold-infested, dilapidated home and the landlord refused to make essential repairs.  PLS helped their family terminate their lease and secure a settlement from the landlord so they could afford to move into decent housing.

Community Change

Homelessness Prevention Project attorneys also work closely with government and nonprofit agencies throughout Western North Carolina to promote tenants' rights and to advocate for the development of affordable housing.  Our accomplishments include:

• PLS Housing Attorney Robin Merrell played a lead role in developing the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Asheville-Buncombe County.  Through this plan, local partners have reduced chronic homelessness and increased the supply of supportive housing in Buncombe County.
• PLS attorneys conducted a comprehensive review of policies of twelve area public housing agencies to ensure that they protect tenant rights, including the rights and safety of domestic violence victims, and promote subsidized housing as a path to greater self-sufficiency.
  
• PLS helped establish affordable housing coalitions in Buncombe, Henderson and Madison Counties. These coalitions undertake projects to increase the supply of affordable housing and improve housing conditions for low-income people. 
• PLS has promoted the development of minimum housing codes in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. These codes help to ensure a minimum standard for housing conditions, improving the safety of the housing stock in local communities.