HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-25 Public Comment - S. Hinkins - Support the Right to CounselFrom:Richard Gillette
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Support the Right to Counsel
Date:Monday, May 12, 2025 4:54:23 PM
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Dear Bozeman City Commission
I am neither a renter nor a landlord, but I believe that it is important to pass a Tenant Right to
Counsel. Guaranteeing the right to legal representation is not only a fair and just thing to do, it
has also proven to be advantageous to the entire community.
I moved to Bozeman in 1971 as a graduate student at MSU. Finding affordable apartments at
that time was challenging. Two of the better apartments I lived in were basement apartments
with only one exit and no egress windows. At that time, MSU did provide an option to live in the
dorms, beyond the freshman year. Now I understand the situation is worse. Also at that time,
the apartments I rented were owned by individuals, often Bozeman residents. Now, the entry
of private equity firms in the rental business makes for a much different landlord.
I still live in Bozeman. While lucky enough to now be a home owner, I believe it is to everyone’s
benefit to try to address Bozeman’s many housing and rental problems.
Evictions have dire consequences on the renters and on our community. An eviction makes
finding another apartment more difficult and can lead to homelessness, to job loss, and even
loss of child custody. Most landlords using eviction notices have legal representation. Based
on my experience, most renters cannot afford a lawyer and they are too busy working, going to
school, raising kids, to understand or investigate their options. Both landlords and tenants
want to avoid eviction notices and it’s been found that when a tenant has counsel, cases are
more likely to be resolved without the need for a formal eviction.
Guaranteeing a tenant’s right to counsel is one relatively simple step to address at least some
of our housing issues. It has been proven effective in other places. Please work to make this
happen in Bozeman.
Thank you.
Susan Hinkins
3300 E Graf Street Unit 94