Senator Tizzy Lockman, chair of the Housing and Land Use committee, introduced a package of bills this year aimed at tackling the rising housing crisis affecting Delawareans across the state. One of these bills, Senate Bill 115, will give tenants a second chance by allowing certain eviction records to be shielded from public view.
This legislation provides a pathway for former defendants in eviction actions to have a second chance at securing housing. Evictions can cause long-lasting damage to renters, including many women of color and families with children. An eviction filing should not condemn anyone to a lifetime of housing barriers, and this legislation will protect marginalized groups from facing unnecessary obstacles when it comes to securing housing.