Even when no eviction occurs, a Failure-to-Pay-Rent case can stay on public record—harming tenants’ chances at stable housing, jobs, or loans.

Maryland’s updated shielding law, effective October 1, 2024, allows certain cases to be automatically shielded, while others can be sealed by petition. This legal protection offers a path forward for tenants impacted by temporary hardship.

Shyia Clark, Workforce Project Coordinator at MVLS, explains how this law can break the cycle of housing insecurity.

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