Right‑to‑representation program reports early success: lower defaults, thousands served in first full year
February 19, 2026 | 2026 Legislature DE, Legislative, Delaware
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Leaders from Community Legal Aid Society, CLASSY and Delaware Volunteer Legal Services told the Joint Finance Committee the state’s right‑to‑representation program — launched Nov. 22, 2023 — has already produced measurable results in its phased rollout.
Dan Atkins of Community Legal Aid said the program was created after the state confronted high eviction filing rates (about 18,000 filings annually pre‑pandemic) and a likely surge of pandemic‑era housing instability. He said the statute guarantees ‘‘qualified tenant advocates’’ rather than lawyers in every case, to preserve symmetry with landlord representation options while ensuring meaningful assistance for tenants.
Sarah Rhine and Lisa Lessner described the operational model: centralized intake routed by ZIP code, weekly data sharing with Justice of the Peace Court, outreach flyers in multiple languages, on‑the‑job training for a 17‑week qualified tenant‑advocate program, and partnerships with Delaware 2‑1‑1 and the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) to pair representation with settlement assistance funds.
The program’s early data, the presenters said: 1,726 new cases opened in the first full year, more than 6,000 individuals assisted (nearly 2,000 children), and positive outcomes for more than 80% of households served. They reported default judgments fell from 29% in 2019 to 18% in 2025 and overall eviction filings in the state declined to 10,441 in 2025.
Staff stressed that many successful outcomes were negotiated resolutions that preserved landlords’ ability to be paid while stabilizing households through benefits screening and targeted settlement assistance. The presenters requested continued legislative support to maintain statewide coverage, expand settlement assistance, and continue a formal evaluation of program outcomes.
The committee was told the program has required stepped funding increases: $825,000 in the partial first year, $1,650,000 in year two, and $3,000,000 in year three (of which $2,450,000 were operating funds and $550,000 in grant aid).
Dan Atkins of Community Legal Aid said the program was created after the state confronted high eviction filing rates (about 18,000 filings annually pre‑pandemic) and a likely surge of pandemic‑era housing instability. He said the statute guarantees ‘‘qualified tenant advocates’’ rather than lawyers in every case, to preserve symmetry with landlord representation options while ensuring meaningful assistance for tenants.
Sarah Rhine and Lisa Lessner described the operational model: centralized intake routed by ZIP code, weekly data sharing with Justice of the Peace Court, outreach flyers in multiple languages, on‑the‑job training for a 17‑week qualified tenant‑advocate program, and partnerships with Delaware 2‑1‑1 and the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) to pair representation with settlement assistance funds.
The program’s early data, the presenters said: 1,726 new cases opened in the first full year, more than 6,000 individuals assisted (nearly 2,000 children), and positive outcomes for more than 80% of households served. They reported default judgments fell from 29% in 2019 to 18% in 2025 and overall eviction filings in the state declined to 10,441 in 2025.
Staff stressed that many successful outcomes were negotiated resolutions that preserved landlords’ ability to be paid while stabilizing households through benefits screening and targeted settlement assistance. The presenters requested continued legislative support to maintain statewide coverage, expand settlement assistance, and continue a formal evaluation of program outcomes.
The committee was told the program has required stepped funding increases: $825,000 in the partial first year, $1,650,000 in year two, and $3,000,000 in year three (of which $2,450,000 were operating funds and $550,000 in grant aid).
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