Relocation Assistance: For Owners, Tenants and Businesses

Government agencies often need to acquire private property for public programs or projects. This kind of acquisition has long been recognized as a right of organized government and is known as “the power of eminent domain.” However, our government cannot abuse this power. The Fifth Amendment of our Constitution states that private property shall not “be taken for public use, without just compensation.” The Fourteenth Amendment provides comparable protection against abuse by State governments.