Helping Families Stay Housed: Sofia’s Story

Sofia–a single mother of two school-age children, Mike and Elena–was facing eviction after refusing to sign an unfair rental renewal agreement. Her landlord insisted she pay $400 off the record in addition to the $3,100 monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment. When she declined, he refused to renew her lease and told her she would have to vacate the premises earlier than the lease end date so he could prepare the unit for a new renter.

Through the City of Boston’s Access to Counsel Pilot Program, Sofia is now receiving free legal support to fight this unjust eviction and keep her children housed.

FamilyAid is proud to partner with the City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability, the Boston Public Schools and Greater Boston Legal Services on this vital initiative, which will provide free legal representation and wrap-around support to at least 120 families this year. Legal services will help FamilyAid-supported Boston Public School households avoid illegal displacement, educational disruptions and negative health impacts.

In Massachusetts, only 2-3% of tenants facing eviction have legal representation—while over 90% of landlords do. This imbalance contributes to high eviction rates, forcing families into unstable housing situations.

Similar programs like New York City’s Right to Counsel have proven the impact of legal aid—84% of represented tenants remained in their homes. This new partnership is ensuring that more families, like Sofia’s, get the support they need to stay housed and remain connected to their communities.

Read more about this program here.