Evictions costing Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — On average, nearly 60 families face eviction every day in Oklahoma according to data collected by the Princeton University project, Eviction Lab. The website shows Oklahoma’s eviction rate is twice the national average, but Oklahoma City’s rate of eviction is nearly four-times as high as the rest of the country.

A recent report by the nonprofit investigative journalism site, Oklahoma Watch, detailed the eviction process and even followed deputies as they served lockout orders. The report highlighted the problem Oklahoma faces with evictions.

For the past year, one man has been taking on that problem as the director of the Oklahoma City University School of Law’s Housing Eviction Assistance Program. “People are so much, and it's probably surprised me more than anything, they are so overburdened the percentage of their income they are having to pay for rent,” explained program director Richard Klinge.

Klinge said he has handled more than 230 clients during the past year that the grant-funded program has been taking on eviction cases in Oklahoma County. There are no income qualifiers to get legal assistance from the program, but Klinge told FOX 25 most of the clients he represents are poor.

“If landlords did what they are supposed to do and tenants did what they are supposed to do they wouldn't need me, I wouldn't be here,” Klinge said, “But that's not what's happening.”

It is relatively easy to take advantage of the poor Klinge has discovered in his new role. The way the laws are interpreted now, landlords have to keep properties habitable, but renters can't withhold rent if repairs aren't being made. The two requirements are not tied to each other and Klinge has found tenants often find themselves caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

“Because the tenant remedies are so limited,” Klinge told FOX 25, “What happens is if the tenants complain landlords will terminate the lease, if it is a month-to-month lease, they'll terminate the lease; I see it all the time.”

Klinge believes lawmakers or the courts should clarify the current laws to level the playing field and ensure bad actors can't take advantage of tenants. If the law allowed tenants more legal options when their rental properties are not maintained, he believes it would lead to less evictions.

Helping those facing eviction could help all of Oklahoma. A recent study by the Philadelphia Bar Association looked at the consequences of evictions in their city. In Philadelphia, a city with a population a little greater than that of the Oklahoma City Metro area, researchers claim providing legal counsel to people facing eviction could save more than $40 million each year.

The cost saving comes from stopping the side effects of eviction on families. Klinge said his clients have been forced to live in their cars or end up in homeless shelters. They often face more mental health problems. Cities and states pick up the costs associated with the fallout that follows an eviction.

“These are still human beings that are now being thrust out into society, somebody's got to help them,” Klinge said.

While it is not possible for him to help every family facing eviction, Klinge believes if more legal assistance was available it would help Oklahoma. Ultimately his hope would be to work himself out of a job and see an Oklahoma where all landlords act appropriately and all tenants are able to pay for affordable housing.