As pandemic-era eviction protections end across California, an increasing number of tenants are being served with eviction notices. Many tenants face difficulties in even responding to these evictions, a necessary step in avoiding default judgments and the loss of their homes. The Tenant Power Toolkit, introduced in July 2022, is an online self-help resource that generates answers and related initial documents for tenants, allowing them to raise defenses, waive a default, and fight the eviction. Over the last year, ICLC has successfully utilized the power of community organizers with expertise in outreach, lawyers with knowledge of housing law, and pro bono partners with a desire to advocate, to turn the Toolkit into a powerful weapon against unlawful evictions. ICLC would like to present the use of the Toolkit and how technology and collaborations can help tackle one our biggest crises - homelessness.
