The Tenant Assistance Project (TAP) is a community-powered eviction defense initiative founded in Lincoln, Nebraska and now operating at both the Lancaster and Douglas County Courthouses. In Lincoln, TAP is operated by the Housing Justice Program at the University of Nebraska College of Law in partnership with the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project. TAP provides free, same-day legal representation and social services support to low- to moderate-income residential tenants facing eviction. Before TAP, only approximately 3% of residential tenants had legal representation at eviction court and, in the majority of cases, tenants were immediately evicted from their homes. Since launching in the spring of 2020, TAP has helped thousands of community members maintain stable housing, benefitting those directly served as well as the broader community.
TAP is currently seeking dedicated volunteers to help meet the growing need for eviction defense and tenant support. Whether you're a legal professional, student, or community member with a passion for housing justice, your time and talents can make a tangible difference. In Lincoln, volunteers are needed to assist with outreach to community members who are facing eviction, and to assist with direct, limited scope legal representation at the courthouse—ensuring that every tenant who needs help is met with dignity, advocacy, and hope.
If you are interested in learning more about TAP volunteer opportunities or want to inquire about becoming a volunteer, contact the Housing Justice Clinic at (402) 472-2161. If you are interested primarily in eviction defense volunteer opportunities, reach out to Rachel Tomlinson Dick at rdick2@unl.edu. For tenant support volunteer opportunities specifically, contact Kaitlyn Evans at kevans16@unl.edu.
