Process Servers: Persons responsible for delivering legal documents (notices, services, orders to appear) to a person to notify them of an eviction, court case, lawsuit, etc.
Typically earn $60-$100 per affadavit sent (or allegedly sent)
Current Issues with Process Servers:
"Sewer Service" - When process servers claim to deliver notices in person, or claim to have attempted contact, but have not.
NO mechanism in place in DC to check whether the process servers were truthful in their affadavits and actually delivered their summons.
Implication:
Unjust evictions, disproportionately affecting black residents
Contributes to long term housing insecurity
If evicted, this affects one's ability to rent in the future
Landlords may check court records or credit reports before accepting a rental application
Contributes to long term food insecurity
Research shows that housing and food insecurity are connected through a bidirectional cycle, in which experiencing one strengthens the risk of experiencing the other.
Exhibited by Demond's "Rent eats first" concept, in which the tradeoff of affording rent is paying for food and vice versa.Â
GPS Monitoring - Vehicles and/or workers should be monitored to ensure attempted contact
Proof Of Delivery - Requirements to upload evidence of attempted contact, like pictures at the residence.
Increased requirements for employment - Currently no specific licensing or certification requirement, we believe there should be.