How late on rent are you? If that horrible economy is here stateside, you "COULD" make them go thru the courts, depending on your situation. If you have a lease (and in alot of cases you dont even need one) It will take them AT THE VERY LEAST 90 days to actually get you out. It's called the Landlord/Tennant laws. In most states there is an entire process the LL will have to go thru. The only time they can actually "throw your shit on the streets" is in a weekly rental situation (Motel type lease) and even then you have options. I had a couple owed me three months, and I let them slide while they were "trying" to get caught up. I put my foot down after I found out they could afford to party all night alot, and dude was bringing a case of beer home every night, all the while telling me they had no money. It STILL took 4 months to get them out.
Thats just one more reason to not grow in a rental unit. Especially if your finances are shaky.