The Seattle City Council unanimously voted Monday to guarantee free legal counsel to poor tenants facing eviction, a system similar to the right to representation already enshrined in the country’s criminal courts.

In passing the measure, members of the council hope to keep as many people in their current homes as possible and avoid the devastating and expensive downstream consequences — including homelessness — that often follow when someone is forcibly removed from where they live.

“This legislation will not enough be itself and we know that we need a lot more,” said Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who originally proposed the legislation. “We know that eviction destroys communities, wrecks households and even kills.”

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