Northeast Montana News

The Montana Department of Commerce has formed a new alliance with the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA), according to a state press release.

The alliance is an effort to create the Montana Eviction Intervention Project. The project will protect residents from being evicted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This partnership is to make sure Montana renters have access to free legal resources that can provide information, guidance and support so people can stay in their homes and not have to worry about possibly being evicted,” Montana Department of Commerce Director Tara Rice said in a press release. “The Montana Eviction Intervention Project will help financially stressed Montanans who are facing an eviction with free legal representation before or during an eviction proceeding.”

The COVID-19 crisis significantly hit people who live paycheck-to-paycheck. When they are laid off due to the pandemic, they can't pay their rent. 

"We are excited to be able to launch the Montana Eviction Intervention Project with the support of the Department of Commerce and the Governor's Office,” MLSA Executive Director Alison Paul said in a press release. “This project will provide valuable legal representation to Montanans struggling to get by in these difficult times. Through the project, the Montana Legal Services Association will help Montanans avoid illegal evictions, negotiate with landlords to obtain additional days to move out and plan an alternative home, connect with available social services, educate judges on the new eviction ban and avoid negative legal judgments for tenants. The goal of these services is to decrease the number of homeless Montanans during the coronavirus public health emergency "