How better tenant access to legal help might reduce Silicon Valley’s growing eviction crisis

SANTA CLARA COUNTY evictions have shot up over the past year, prompting local groups and governments to find ways to support renters.

The county recorded 3,180 evictions last year, the highest amount since 2014. Compare that to the less than 2,000 evictions between 2020 and 2022 during the pandemic. Key protections tenants won at the onset of COVID-19 have expired, leaving fewer options for renters facing eviction. Experts said increasing free and accessible legal services for tenants in Santa Clara County would lead to a drop in evictions, as many renters might not know how to fight an eviction, or don’t want to.