Springfield Tenants Demand a Right to Counsel!

Eviction rates in Springfield have been skyrocketing since 2020, with data from Princeton’s Eviction Lab reporting a record high of 2,292 eviction filings in 2025. That’s thousands of families put at high risk of homelessness and housing insecurity for years to come. That ain’t right!

Right to Counsel, legislation that guarantees legal representation (a lawyer) for all tenants facing eviction, is an evidence-based strategy that has drastically improved outcomes for renters in cities across the country. That’s particularly crucial for tenants in Springfield, where Missouri court records show that 70% of landlords are represented in eviction cases on average while only 10% of tenants ever see any legal help. 

Right to Counsel is already sitting on Springfield City Council members’ desks thanks to the efforts of STUN and neighbors like you, but corporate landlords and the forces behind our broken court system are working to keep it rigged in their favor.

Our friends, families, coworkers, and loved ones cannot afford to wait another year. Every month city leaders stall this life-saving program furthers the inequality of our justice system and entrenches the impacts of eviction in our community. It is undeniable that our families and neighbors are worth investing in. 

Join our efforts in the fight for Right to Counsel by using the links below.