Navigator Script (Sample)

This is a sample script (not mandatory) for a tenant facing imminent eviction. Navigators do not have to follow this script, but should rely on it as a useful resource as they begin to develop their own intake style.

Introduction

Hi, is this [Tenant Y]? My name is X. I’m a navigator with the Columbia Branch NAACP Housing Navigators program. How are you this evening?

Do you have some time to discuss the problems that you are facing?

Ok, great. I think our conversation now should last around 30-40 minutes, but we can definitely pick back up if we get cut off or need more time. We can also speed the conversation up.

I’m going to ask you a lot of personal questions, so that I can figure out how best to assist you. But I’m not going to share any information you give me, except to other navigators and to our pro bono attorneys. We ask this information so we can determine how to give you the best help possible.

Housing Issues

To start, would you mind giving me a short description of the housing issues you’re facing?

[Ask follow up questions about issues as needed.]

• Tenant: “My landlord just filed to evict me. The papers from the court came this morning.”

• Navigator: “Have you tried to request legal representation through South Carolina Legal Services or a lawyer?”

• Tenant: “No.”

• Navigator: “Before we go over the eviction, are you aware that the federal government currently prevents the eviction of anyone because they’re behind on rent for reasons related to the pandemic?

• Tenant: “No.”

• Navigator: “Ok, I can’t advise you about whether you qualify for the eviction ban. But I can send you the information you need to submit in order to trigger that ban, and walk you through what that looks like. Basically, in order to trigger the moratorium, a tenant just needs to sign a declaration that says they can’t pay the rent for COVID-related reasons, and then send that signed declaration to the landlord.”

• Navigator: “Do you have a good email address to use? I can send you a link to a tool that will help you fill out and send the declaration to your landlord. Just in case, the link is https://www.covid19evictionforms.com/create-letter.”

• Navigator: “If you do decide to submit the declaration, it’s possible that a court will stop your eviction. But, just in case, you may want to seek legal counsel. Would you like me to sign you up now to see if you qualify for free assistance from South Carolina Legal Services?”

• Tenant: “Yes.”

• Navigator: Ok, I can put your information into their website, and they will call you after we’ve submitted. [Go to SC Legal Service page: https://www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake. Click “get started.”]

[Then return to ask about the eviction process.]

• Navigator: You said you hadn’t requested a hearing, right?

• Tenant: No.

• Navigator: Ok, I can’t advise you about whether you should request a hearing. But I can provide you with some basic information. If a tenant does not request a hearing, then the court will say that the tenant is evicted after ten days—without having the tenant appear. But, if the tenant does request a hearing, then the tenant can appear to contest the eviction. The process will probably take longer than 10 days. In general, we recommend that all tenants request hearings, but, again, I can’t say whether doing so make sense for you.

• Navigator: To request a hearing, you can probably call the magistrate court. Do you have the court papers that were sent to you? Ok, that should tell you how to request the hearing at the very bottom. Can you read it to me and we can figure out if that is the number you should call.

Non-Legal Resources

• Navigator: Ok, now that we’ve walked through some of the eviction process, I’d like to ask you a few more questions so that we can see about what other types of assistance you might be able to qualify for…

  1. What financial burdens do you currently experience?

  2. What bills take the most of your income?

  3. Are you in need of low income:

     1. Child-care

     2. Phone and internet service

     3. Medical care

     4. Food assistance

     5. Government benefits