Tenant Assistance Project
The Tenant Assistance Project (TAP) provides legal help to tenants who face an immediate threat of eviction. Staffed by law students under the supervision of an attorney, TAP offers Bloomington residents quality legal information, advice, and representation. TAP helps to prevent homelessness in Monroe County, Indiana, by educating tenants about their legal rights.
If you need legal help with a housing problem
The Tenant Assistance Project is only able to help tenants who are in court facing an immediate eviction hearing and only on the days that the Tenant Assistance Project is able to be at the Monroe County Justice Building (usually during the law school's fall and spring semesters). We are not able to provide any information or offer legal assistance or consult with you about your situation unless we are meeting with you right before your eviction hearing at the Monroe County Justice Building. Please do not contact the Tenant Assistance Project's supervising attorney or our student leaders as we will just give you this contact information below.
Services
- Screening:
First, we determine what the client needs and wants.
- Advice:
A short advising session will present the client with possible options and, if necessary, refer the client to other service providers or agencies.
- In-depth advice and instruction:
We advise clients on how to represent themselves in court and to negotiate with the opposing party.
- Negotiating:
Before the eviction hearing, TAP representatives negotiate with the opposing party on behalf of the tenant.
- In-court representation:
TAP members appear before a judge with the tenant to help their client present facts and legal defenses.
- Full representation:
- If you want to get legal assistance before your eviction hearing, you should contact an organization below:
- Indiana University's Student Legal Services
(for IU students only) -- 812-855-7867 orhttps://studentaffairs.indiana.edu/student-support/legal-services/index.html - Indiana Legal Services
(for low-income people and senior citizens) -- 812-339-7668 or 1-800-822-4774 - District Ten Pro Bono Project
812-339-3610 or 1-800-570-1787
- Indiana University's Student Legal Services
Officers
- John McMackin, President (jmcmacki@indiana.edu)
- Dustin House
- Ben Wade
- Alyssa Gerstner