Free Legal Clinic Today Offers Pasadena Renters Help as Unsheltered Numbers Grow

Pasadena renters facing eviction or struggling to access public benefits can consult an attorney for free today at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, where Public Counsel holds its monthly Homelessness Prevention Legal Clinic.

The walk-in clinic, held the third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., pairs a group presentation on tenant rights with one-on-one legal consultations. It comes as the city’s most recent Point-in-Time count found 581 people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena — a 4% increase from 2024 — with 342 living unsheltered, a 7% rise, according to the city’s Housing Department.

The clinic also follows a December 2025 California Court of Appeal ruling that reshaped the city’s renter protections. The court struck down two provisions of Pasadena’s Measure H rent stabilization law — the relocation assistance requirement for some tenants after rent increases and a notice requirement before eviction filings. Core protections, including a 2.25% rent cap for covered properties and just-cause eviction rules, remain in effect.

Public Counsel, which describes itself as the nation’s largest provider of pro bono legal services, staffs the clinic with attorneys who advise on eviction defense, tenant counseling, government benefits, and fighting fines for quality-of-life infractions, according to the organization’s website. The clinic is a partnership with the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

“Homelessness and a shortage of affordable housing cause immeasurable suffering for people experiencing poverty,” Public Counsel states on its website. “These crises are compounded by a lack of affordable legal counsel for renters facing eviction.”

The clinic is at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Room 200. No appointment is needed. Attendees are asked to bring documents related to their case. Those who cannot attend can call Public Counsel at (213) 385-2977 or the Jackie Robinson Center at (626) 744-7300.

The clinic is one of two free legal events Public Counsel holds monthly at the center. A broader Community Legal Clinic, co-sponsored with All Saints Church, meets the second Saturday of each month.