“Solutions to Baltimore’s Eviction Crisis, Community Land Trusts, and Affordable Housing Requirements in Developments such as Port Covington”

Baltimore has the second highest rate of eviction filings in the nation, second only to Detroit, due largely to a lack of affordable housing as well as outdated court processes. In addition, the foreclosure crisis is seriously harming homeowners and their tenants alike. Affordable housing requirements (in government-backed community development projects such as Port Covington), community land trusts, and legal reforms are innovative solutions being demanded by social justice advocates to create affordable, accessible and non-discriminatory, rental housing.

John Nethercut’s life in social justice advocacy began with community organizing with the United Farm Workers and tenant union organizing in Boston. He was a legal aid worker in a variety of U.S. cities, and a Deputy Chief of the Maryland Consumer Protection Division before leading the Public Justice Center since 2002. For over 30 years Baltimore’s Public Justice Center has pursued systemic change to build a just society through legal advocacy, representing low-income clients and collaborating with community and advocacy organizations.