Eviction Prevention & Resources
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EHOC is not currently accepting new evictin defense inquiries.
Please note that EHOC is not taking walk-in clients at this time, and EHOC’s physical office is not currently staffed.
Eviction Defense Hotline
In response to the COVID-19 eviction, EHOC created a new Eviction Defense program. Staffed with dedicated eviction defense attorneys, tenant advocates, and support staff, EHOC is providing legal support to eligible tenants facing eviction or risk of eviction in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Tenants must have been impacted by COVID in some way and some income restrictions apply.
EHOC also provides additional legal counseling and services to all people (regardless of income) who have fair housing issues such as housing discrimination, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, and sexual harassment in housing.
CDC Eviction Moratorium
Update: The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on August 26, 2021 that ended the CDC Eviction Moratorium.
Unfortunately, local protections that have delayed the execution of most evictions in St. Louis City and County might be ending soon. However, the CDC moratorium could prevent evictions through December 31, 2020, if applicable.
To be covered under the CDC moratorium, you must print, sign/date, and submit the CDC Declaration Form to your landlord. You will be signing the form under penalty of perjury, so make sure you can swear everything on the form is true and applies to you. We suggest that you send the Declaration Form to your landlord by certified mail so that you have proof of your landlord’s receipt, but you may also want to send a copy via regular mail, email, and/or personal delivery, particularly if you believe your landlord won’t pick up the certified mail. Make sure you make a copy for your own records and keep it in a safe place, as you may need to provide a copy to the Court or Sheriff to stop your eviction.
Links & Resources
Additional Guidance from the CDC
FAQ on CDC Moratorium (National Low Income Housing Coalition)
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri resources on CDC Moratorium (including a video tutorial about the declaration form).
EVICTIONS AND COURT REOPENINGS:
My landlord filed for eviction. What happens next?
You will receive your court date either in-person or posted on your property
If all money owed + court fees are paid before the judgment is entered, the eviction should be dismissed.
Who can I call for legal help?
EHOC is not currently accepting
new inquiries.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri:
314-534-4200
Arch City Defenders:
314-361-8834
I'm behind on rent...
Contact United Way:
Dial 2-1-1
Discuss a payment plan with your landlord
Schedule a mediation with your landlord
(STL City) Conflict Resolution Center:
314-255-7449
(STL County) St. Louis Mediation Project:
314-833-0226
How do I find my case?
-
Your court date should be delivered in-person or posted on your door. You can also find your court date on CaseNet (courts.mo.gov)
* Search your first and last name on CaseNet (try all possible spelling)
* After clicking your name, select the "hearings and trials" tab to see your court date. If you don't have internet access for the hearing, community advocates may be able to assist ie. a local library or community center - If your court date has passed, check the "Civil Judgements" tab for more details
- Confirm the right middle initial, case address and year filed
What happens during
a hearing?
- Your Landlord may be willing to settle your case with you before your trial, like by making a payment plan. You are never required to settle your case if you don't want to. If you settle your case, you will not have a trial in front of the judge.
- Your Landlord may ask you to sign an agreement called a "Consent Judgment." A consent judgment is still an eviction judgment and will show up on your record.
- The consent judgment should say how much money you owe your Landlord, and if you are agreeing to move by a specific date. Read the agreement carefully and only sign if you agree.
- If you don't agree, you have the right to request a continuance or ask for a trial date.
- You should attend all hearings/trials to avoid default judgments in this case.
- A default judgment means the decision is in favor of the Landlord.
When does my case go
to trial?
- The tenant has a right to request a trial instead of signing a consent judgment.
- If there is a dispute on the amount owed, be sure to bring to trial receipts or documents that support your argument.
- You may request a continuance for more time to gather needed documentation.
Before the court appearance, find out if your landlord is represented by an attorney.
How do I do this?
You can tell if your landlord is not represented by an attorney if:
- You live in St. Louis City and your court date is on a Friday at 9:30 A.M.
– OR-
- You live in St. Louis County and your court date is on a Tuesday at 1:00 P.M.
Why should I know this?
If your landlord is not represented, your first court appearance could also be the trial, and you need to come prepared with pre-filed answers to defend the charge. If your landlord has a lawyer, a trial date will be set at the first court appearance.
What are the possible outcomes of the trial?
