Anyone who is 18 years of age or older has the right to start a lawsuit in the North Carolina court system. If the lawsuit is for a claim of $10,000 or less (this amount can vary by county), it can be brought into Small Claims Court, which is available in every county. This guide tells you how to fill out the right forms, prepare for trial, handle the trial, and follow through on the judge’s decision.
The Durham Eviction Diversion Program is a partnership of our Durham office, Duke Law’s Civil Justice Clinic and the Durham Department of Social Services. The program uses tenant education, legal advocacy and rental assistance to prevent evictions and increase housing security for low-income renters in Durham County.
Durham Courthouse Clinic
Free Eviction Advice for Qualifying Tenants
Are you a Durham resident undergoing an eviction? Come to Legal Aid’s courthouse clinic to get connected with a free attorney.
Clinic Hours
Open Monday – Friday 9AM-12PM 3rd floor, Room 3200
Please Bring
Your court papers
Lease
Ledger
Contact Us
If you are an agency seeking to refer a community member facing eviction or housing insecurity, please email us. If you are an individual seeking immediate legal service from a trained professional, please call the number below:
The Durham Eviction Diversion Program relies on the support of community members committed to housing security. Each year, dozens of volunteers and interns commit hundreds of hours to helping our neighbors stayed securely housed.
Volunteering could be downloading and distributing our fliers below to your communities. It could also mean working shoulder-to-shoulder with our staff on some of the following tasks: developing K-12 curricula; researching local and state policies; facilitating community relationships; working one-on-one with clients; and building websites like this.
Interested in volunteering or interning to ensure that all people have a place to call home?
The Durham Evictions Mapping Project tells the story of housing insecurity and eviction in Durham during the COVID-19 pandemic as experienced by clients of the Durham Eviction Diversion Program.
Click here to be taken to the full website for the Durham Evictions Mapping Project.
History of Settlement and Housing in Durham
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the eviction crisis in Durham. Housing insecurity has long riddled the city. Read about the connections between past and present history of housing in Durham.
“[When COVID-19 restrictions] were starting to be lifted to the point at which landlords can take people to court….I was able to talk to someone [at the Durham Eviction Diversion Program]…to get a few guidelines of what I could do or who I could turn to with this situation.”
Ms. Gonzalez
The Durham Eviction Diversion Program “prevented me from being evicted and made it possible for me to pay my rent and be able still to do the things I needed to do for my children and pay the rest of my bills, so it was very helpful. I’m very appreciative…
A lovely woman at Legal Aid was very good too– she was on top of everything, she was easy to work with, she was efficient, it was all around good experience.”
Mr. Brown
“If it was not for [the Durham Eviction Diversion Program] me and my children would probably not have anywhere to stay… I’ve just never seen a program move as fast as this program has…I’m just really grateful for it.”
Our Community Partners
Walk in Ministry
“We have collaborated with Legal Aid throughout the pandemic. Our Walk In Ministry financially serves some of the most vulnerable individuals in the community and Legal Aid has provided the legal protection that has kept many of these individuals and families from becoming homeless. Legal Aid has been responsive to our referrals, has followed through with services, and has treated clients with respect.”
Duke Memorial UMC
” Duke Memorial United Methodist Church was excited to join with Legal Aid just a year ago to assist our neighbors’ housing needs. Our congregation’s Good Samaritan Fund is operated by volunteers who respond to requests once a month so we recognize we do not have the resources to assist the huge need in our neighborhood. Legal Aid Eviction Diversion Program has a working relationship with clients which means they know the areas of greatest need and where our funds will have the greatest impact. In the past six months we have helped 9 households with an average of $250 per household. We are thankful for this partnership.”
Durham Congregations in Action
“Durham Congregations In Action has supported the work of Legal Aid for the past four years. Their work on eviction prevention has been an essential resource for our network of faith-communities and nonprofit partners. We’ve relied on Legal Aid’s analysis for educating faith-community leaders and identifying action steps to assist people in housing crisis. Legal Aid’s partnership has provided housing advocates and faith-communities involved in homelessness intervention an additional avenue for keeping people housed.”
Community Empowerment Fund
“Legal Aid Durham Eviction Division has provided valuable assistance to CEF Members by engaging with them in the familiar and accessible environment of the Durham CEF office. This support fosters deeper collaboration with our staff, enabling us to identify various layers of additional assistance, including mental health resources and opportunities for increasing employment and income. Thanks to eviction diversion efforts, Members have gained a better understanding of the eviction process, giving them more options to address their situations. While the housing crisis is a real threat to our community and overall well-being, the combination of collaboration and resources offers some support while we continue to advocate for housing accessibility and affordability.”
The Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people in North Carolina through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement.
