January 2026 - 2025 In Review
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Welcome Note
As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the work we have been able to accomplish together. This year, we have strengthened our presence in the community and shared resources relating to Fair Housing and Eviction Prevention with thousands of people. None of this would be possible without the continued support and collaboration of our dedicated community partners! As we look back, we are excited to highlight some statistics from an incredible year!
2025 In Review
Did You Know in 2025…
We hosted over 50 Fair Housing and Eviction Prevention ‘Know Your Rights’ presentations with approximately 1,000 people in attendance across our 15 counties. In these presentations our attorneys engaged in discussions with local community members covering topics such as the eviction process, and
Members of our Housing Justice team tabled at over 200 events sharing brochures and flyers for our justice project and other projects at Florida Legal Services.
Our Fair Housing team distributed a total of 17,324 Fair Housing related brochures filled with information about housing discrimination and protected classes.
Our Fair Housing attorneys provided legal advice or representation to approximately 40 different housing discrimination cases. We also had over 70 calls made to our Fair Housing line where our team handled inquiries and made referrals as needed.
The Eviction Prevention Team worked on 1,777 cases, assisting people facing evictions, and they recently expanded to cover 15 more counties in Florida!
The Eviction Prevention Spanish Helpline received 165 calls and the English Helpline received 3,251 calls.
So What Does It All Mean?
Throughout the year we have created amazing partnerships with other community organizations and together we have connected with approximately 4,000 people!
The Eviction Prevention program recently joined the Fair Housing Program in serving more counties in Florida. Their services are currently offered in Alachua, Levy, Putnam, Dixie, Gilchrist, Marion, Lake, Flagler, St. Johns, Sumter, Brevard, Indian River, Volusia, Orange, Seminole, and Osceola.
The Eviction Prevention team has been able to keep tenants housed, address habitability concerns, and ensure tenants in subsidized housing have their rights protected.
Throughout our presentations and collaborations with community partners, the Housing Justice project has been able to educate hundreds of people about their Fair Housing rights and the eviction process.
What Can We Do?
We would like to send a special thank you to all of our community partners. We have grown our outreach and have been connected to patrons in counties all over Florida because of YOU! We look forward to continuing this partnership into 2026.
We would like to take a moment to highlight some new connections we have made this past year. Thank you to the Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) Community Health Division, Willie Mae Stokes Community Center, Hawthorne Area Resource Center, Gilchrist Prevention Coalition, Levy County Department of Health, The Nehemiah Project, IMPACT Gainesville, Veterans Affairs-Intimate Partner Violence Team, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and so many others for including us in your outreach events this year! Looking forward to more collaborations in the new year!
If your legal issue does not fall under the Housing Justice team, don’t worry—we have several other projects that may be able to help. The projects offer services regarding Medicaid for children, immigration needs, domestic violence related cases, institutional legal services, and veterans’ rights. Please call our helplines or visit our website at https://www.floridalegal.org/ to learn more about our projects!
Be aware that if you were served with an eviction notice, you can call our Eviction Prevention helpline for FREE legal assistance. Call us today at 888-780-0443!
We utilize language line services for tenants with diverse linguistic backgrounds.
If you or someone you know is facing discrimination on the basis of their victimization, or needs legal assistance navigating housing, do not hesitate to give us a call at 407-801-4224 or email us at fairhousing@floridalegal.org
Community Outreach
Upcoming Outreach Events
What We’ve Been Up To
IMPACT Gainesville Event
It was a pleasure to table at the Gun Violence Day of Peace Celebration hosted by the City of Gainesville. We joined community partners in sharing information about the resources available throughout Alachua County. The event brought the community together at the end of the year, offering groceries, hot meals, clothing, and other vital support to residents.
Majestic Oaks Event
A huge thank you to Partnership for Stronger Families for inviting us to their Winter Celebration at Majestic Oaks. It was amazing to see the community gather to spread positivity and unity. We made many community connections, and distributed flyers for our Housing projects!
Christmas on Main St. in Gilchrist
The Fair Housing team joined Gilchrist’s Christmas celebration, where Lola shared Florida Legal Services resources for those experiencing housing discrimination, instability, or other legal issues we assist with. We’re grateful to the Tri-County Taskforce for always including us in their community events. Here’s to reaching more rural areas in the new year!
Cedar Key Outreach
Florida Legal Services’ Housing Justice teams traveled to Cedar Key during their community food drive and distributed flyers to patrons waiting in line. We made a connection that we hope to see thrive in the new year. Looking forward to reaching more Cedar Key residents!
Family Holiday Event at Library Partnership and Alachua County Labor Potluck
There were many holiday events this month, and we had the pleasure of joining community gatherings at Library Partnership and at Emmanuel Church for their Labor Coalition meetings. Thank you for including us in all of your events, and the ernst you all have to get residents connected to the services they need.
Bo-Diddley Community Support Pop-up Event
It was our pleasure to attend and connect with community members working towards a healthier and safer Alachua. Our Housing Justice teams joined other social service organizations in distributing and bringing awareness to the services we all offer to residents in need of legal aid, health screenings, mental health care, food security, and much more. We look forward to continuing outreach during these community events in 2026!
Eviction Prevention in Alachua, Brevard, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia County:
Eviction Prevention Helpline - CALL: 888-780-0443
This helpline supports tenants, in the counties above, facing eviction or other housing-related challenges. Our operators are available to take calls about landlord-tenant disputes, housing authority voucher issues, and other housing concerns impacting low-income renters. Callers will be connected with an attorney who can provide legal advice over the phone and, in some cases, direct legal representation. Call us today to get the help you need!
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects you from discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. This applies to renting, buying, mortgages, appraisals, insurance, and looking for a place to live.
IF YOU THINK YOU’VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
407-801- 4224 (English)
850-680-1729 (Spanish)
fairhousing@floridalegal.org
www.floridalegal.org/fairhousing
IF YOU ARE AN ALACHUA COUNTY RESIDENT FACING BARRIERS TO HOUSING OR AN EVICTION, PLEASE CALL AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS TO REACH A LIVE ALACHUA COUNTY OPERATOR:
888-780-0443 (English and Spanish)
www.floridalegal.org/evictionprevention
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.