A tenant advocacy clinic takes Brandeis University students out of the classroom and puts them face-to-face with those dealing with evictions, slumlords and a lack of affordable housing.
Yesterday, a handful of students taking a class in environmental law and policy gathered at the WATCH office on Moody Street to host a drop-in clinic. WATCH is a nonprofit community development corporation.
At the clinic, the students answer questions about tenants' rights and housing, provide resources to tenants and help those who don't speak English understand housing-related documents.
The clinic fills a gap left by a tenant advocate who was cut due to a lack of funding, according to Darline Jeanniton, director of organizing for WATCH.
"Before we hire another tenant advocate, we asked how can we keep this (service) going," Jeanninton said. "It's been like pulling teeth to keep the job up and running. It's the most important (service) we provide at WATCH."
The clinic's benefits work both ways, said teaching assistant Gabriella Wertman, 20.
"Students will get an amazing opportunity to practice skills they've learned in class and reach out to the community and talk to tenants in Waltham," Wertman said. "For the tenants of Waltham, it's an opportunity for them to talk to someone without them having to go to a real time lawyer. They can tackle a problem in its infancy on the ground and see what their rights as tenants are."
Brandeis professor Laura Goldin, who teaches the environmental law and policy class, said she became aware of WATCH's needs while working with the organization through another class.
"I think it's always a fabulous experience for students to get beyond the walls of the university and get into the community," Goldin said. "I've heard more and more the need for tenants to understand what their rights are and asserting those rights."
Goldin said that aspects of environmental law, such as tenants dealing with asbestos, lead paint and other environmental factors, also helped motivate her to set up the clinic.
About 27 students make up the environmental law and policy class. A rotating crew of students will take turns running the clinic for the rest of the semester.
During the last three weeks, students have been preparing, practicing mock scenarios between classmates and residents of the Prospect Hill Terrace apartment complex. Recently students and faculty have become involved with tenants' rights issues at the complex.
"We got a scenario that WATCH deals with on a day-to-day basis and we'd have one person pretend they were the tenant and one pretend they were the advocate," said student Danielle Hollenbeck-Pringle, 20. "For students, it's important because it's a law course, and one of the most important aspects of practicing law is dealing with people."
Jeanninton said the students' work fits into the WATCH's mission while providing an invaluable service. She said that a lack of affordable housing is one major issue the students will face.
' 'The lack of affordable housing and the need for it in Waltham specifically is very (big). So much so that it breaks my heart," she said. "If there were more resources, there would be fewer homeless people and fewer people getting evicted."
The clinic will be open for tenants at two locations following the university's February break from Feb. 18 through 22.
Tenants can drop in on Mondays 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Prospect Hill Community Center at 63D Hansen Road and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the WATCH office at 517 Moody St.
Tenants with questions about housing rights who wish to call during clinic hours can call 781-891-6689, ex. 203
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
