June 12, 2025
Initiative-supported research reveals link between tenant legal representation and health
New research conducted by Will von Geldern, a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, that was recently published in Social Science & Medicine found an interesting link between Right to Counsel (RTC) programs and population health. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, von Geldern analyzed interviews with 45 tenants who received legal assistance through Washington’s statewide RTC program. He also analyzed data from the 970 eviction cases filed in January of 2024 in the state.
The study, which was funded in part by the UW Population Health Initiative, found that tenant legal representation confers three important health benefits. First, it benefits psychological support during eviction proceedings, which can inflict severe psychological trauma onto tenants. Legal representation also provides tenants more time for housing stability. Third, legal representation improved housing prospects through record sealing. The research found that 58% of tenants who were represented received record sealing orders versus just 3.9% of the unregistered tenants. However, roughly 55% of eligible tenants still faced eviction without any legal representation.