FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2026
Eric W. Hughes
Director of Communications
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
ehughes@vljnj.org
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Awarded $350,000 Grant to Combat Eviction Crisis in Essex County
NEWARK, NJ — Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for its Tenancy Program. The funding, provided through the 2025/2026 Omnibus Eviction and Homelessness Prevention (OEHP) grant, will support legal services for Essex County tenants from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
In a strategic partnership to provide holistic support to tenants facing eviction, VLJ will collaborate with the United Community Corporation, which will serve as the social services provider for the grant.
Addressing a High-Stakes Crisis in Essex County
The need for legal intervention in Essex County is urgent. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Essex County saw 23,290 eviction filings—representing approximately 20% of all filings in New Jersey. Essex County continues to lead the state in housing instability, with more than double the filings of the next highest county (Middlesex).
Despite the high volume of cases, a staggering 98.6% of Essex County tenants currently face court without legal representation.
“We’re grateful for our continued partnership with VLJ who understands that eviction isn’t merely a legal proceeding that the most vulnerable residents of NJ are subjected to but rather a destabilizing system that threatens to break communities apart and increase public health risks. At DCA, we value the best practice needed to address this harm with legal services support in addition to the common social services and financial assistance supports, because expanding access to counsel to at-risk residents is rooted in housing first and harm reduction, and significantly increases the chances of keeping people housed while empowering them to understand and assert their rights in court.” said DCA’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of Eviction Prevention, Dean Dafis.
Cathy Keenan, Executive Director of VLJ, offered, "Our housing system often creates a revolving circle of poverty with generational consequences. Eviction is not merely a result of poverty; it is a cause of it. An eviction leads to homelessness, unemployment, and devastating health and educational outcomes. No one should lose their home and place in their community simply because they cannot afford an attorney.”
Focus on Equity and At-Risk Populations
Housing instability disproportionately affects communities of color and households with children. National data indicates children under five are the most likely age group to face eviction, with 27% of Black children under five in rental households experiencing eviction. In Newark, where 75% of residents are renters and racial segregation remains high, these statistics underscore a dire need for targeted advocacy.
Last year, VLJ’s Tenancy Program client demographics included:
94% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
71% Women
48% Households with children
17% Seniors (60+)
11% Veterans
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About the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA)
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is a state agency created to provide administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. Learn more by visiting www.nj.gov/dca.
About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)
Based in Newark, NJ, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is an award-winning organization that partners with volunteers to deliver free civil legal help that protects rights, expands opportunity, drives economic mobility, and strengthens communities. Guided by the principle that justice is a right, not a privilege, VLJ envisions a New Jersey where people experiencing poverty have equal access to the legal system.
In 2025, VLJ handled 2,062 cases, reaching 4,943 individuals, including 1,807 children. This record-breaking level of service was made possible by 24 experienced staff members and 600 committed attorney and non-attorney volunteers, who donated more than 6,700 hours of service valued at over $2.1 million. Connect with VLJ on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.