University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

In order to determine if you are eligible for our services, please fill out the form entitled “University Legal Clinic Virtual Intake”. This will help us determine whether or not you are enrolled at UWM and your issue is not against another UWM student/entity (We may only assist students who are currently paying segregated fees). Once you fill out the form, please take the time to thoroughly read and sign the form entitled “Confidentiality Agreement”. It should be noted that the completion of both these forms does not ensure that we will be able to offer you our services. Once we have confirmed that you are eligible, you will receive an email with a link to the form that most closely aligns with your needs. Please take the time to fill out all forms as accurately as possible and to the best of your abilities.

*EXPECT 1 OR 2 DAYS FOR A RESPONSE AS WE MOVE INTO A VIRTUAL CLINIC. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.*

University Legal Clinic Virtual Intake: https://uwm.presence.io/form/university-legal-clinic-virtual-intake

Confidentiality Agreement: https://uwm.presence.io/form/ulc-confidentiality-agreement

Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions To Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the issuance of an Order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act to temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

This Order is effective September 4, 2020, through March 31, 2021

Applicability

Under this Order, a landlord, owner of a residential property, or other person [3] with a legal right to pursue eviction or possessory action, shall not evict any covered person from any residential property in any jurisdiction to which this Order applies during the effective period of the Order. This Order does not apply in any State, local, territorial, or tribal area with a moratorium on residential evictions that provides the same or greater level of public-health protection than the requirements listed in this Order. Nor does this order apply to American Samoa, which has reported no cases of COVID-19, until such time as cases are reported.

Renter’s or Homeowner’s Declaration

Attachment A is a Declaration form that tenants, lessees, or residents of residential properties who are covered by the CDC’s order temporarily halting residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 may use. To invoke the CDC’s order these persons must provide an executed copy of the Declaration form (or a similar declaration under penalty of perjury) to their landlord, owner of the residential property where they live, or other person who has a right to have them evicted or removed from where they live. Each adult listed on the lease, rental agreement, or housing contract should likewise complete and provide a declaration. Unless the CDC order is extended, changed, or ended, the order prevents these persons from being evicted or removed from where they are living through December 31, 2020. These persons are still required to pay rent and follow all the other terms of their lease and rules of the place where they live. These persons may also still be evicted for reasons other than not paying rent or making a housing payment. Executed declarations should not be returned to the Federal Government.

This Order is a temporary eviction moratorium to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This Order does not relieve any individual of any obligation to pay rent, make a housing payment, or comply with any other obligation that the individual may have under a tenancy, lease, or similar contract. Nothing in this Order precludes the charging or collecting of fees, penalties, or interest as a result of the failure to pay rent or other housing payment on a timely basis, under the terms of any applicable contract.

Nothing in this Order precludes evictions based on a tenant, lessee, or resident: (1) Engaging in criminal activity while on the premises; (2) threatening the health or safety of other residents; [10] (3) damaging or posing an immediate and significant risk of damage to property; (4) violating any applicable building code, health ordinance, or similar regulation relating to health and safety; or (5) violating any other contractual obligation, other than the timely payment of rent or similar housing-related payment (including non-payment or late payment of fees, penalties, or interest).

Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Temporary Halt in Evictions to Prevent Further Spread of COVID-19

This declaration is for tenants, lessees, or residents of residential properties who are covered by the CDC’s order temporarily halting residential evictions (not including foreclosures on home mortgages) to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Under the CDC’s order you must provide a copy of this declaration to your landlord, owner of the residential property where you live, or other person who has a right to have you evicted or removed from where you live. Each adult listed on the lease, rental agreement, or housing contract should complete this declaration. Unless the CDC order is extended, changed, or ended, the order prevents you from being evicted or removed from where you are living through December 31, 2020. You are still required to pay rent and follow all the other terms of your lease and rules of the place where you live. You may also still be evicted for reasons other than not paying rent or making a housing payment. This declaration is sworn testimony, meaning that you can be prosecuted, go to jail, or pay a fine if you lie, mislead, or omit important information.

I certify under penalty of perjury, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, that the foregoing are true and correct:

I have used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing; [37]

I either expect to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for Calendar Year 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), was not required to report any income in 2019 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check) pursuant to Section 2201 of the CARES Act;

I am unable to pay my full rent or make a full housing payment due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, lay-offs, or extraordinary [38] out-of-pocket medical expenses;

I am using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit, taking into account other nondiscretionary expenses;

If evicted I would likely become homeless, need to move into a homeless shelter, or need to move into a new residence shared by other people who live in close quarters because I have no other available housing options.[39]

I understand that I must still pay rent or make a housing payment, and comply with other obligations that I may have under my tenancy, lease agreement, or similar contract. I further understand that fees, penalties, or interest for not paying rent or making a housing payment on time as required by my tenancy, lease agreement, or similar contract may still be charged or collected.

I further understand that at the end of this temporary halt on evictions on December 31, 2020, my housing provider may require payment in full for all payments not made prior to and during the temporary halt and failure to pay may make me subject to eviction pursuant to State and local laws.

I understand that any false or misleading statements or omissions may result in criminal and civil actions for fines, penalties, damages, or imprisonment.

____________________________________

Signature of Declarant                  Date

37.  “Available government assistance” means any governmental rental or housing payment benefits available to the individual or any household member.

38.  An “extraordinary” medical expense is any unreimbursed medical expense likely to exceed 7.5% of one’s adjusted gross income for the year.

39.  “Available housing” means any available, unoccupied residential property, or other space for occupancy in any seasonal or temporary housing, that would not violate Federal, State, or local occupancy standards and that would not result in an overall increase of housing cost to you.

For the full Order copy and paste this link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/04/2020-19654/temporary-halt-in-residential-evictions-to-prevent-the-further-spread-of-covid-19

 

How can we help?

The paralegals and the on-staff attorney of the University Legal Clinic can assist UW-Milwaukee students with various legal issues such as:

• Landlord/Tenant
• Underage Drinking
• Traffic Citations/Accidents
• Contracts
• Noise Violations
• Personal Injury
• Uncontested Divorce

This is not an exhaustive list. If you are curious to know whether the University Legal Clinic will be able to assist in your particular case, please Contact Us.

The University Legal Clinic is moving online due to COVID-19. Please go under “Find Help” or “Contact Us” to get more information about how you can get helped!

Client Testimonies 

“Very great service! Every time I went in, everyone was very friendly and vigilant to ensure me that my case would be kept completely confidential! Thank you very much for your help!”

“Everyone at the Legal Clinic was very helpful and great. Although the people involved in my party chose not to pursue the case, I’m glad I went to the Legal Clinic to get a better understanding of my rights regarding security deposits and this experience will definitely help me in the future.”