STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Human and Social Needs
AGENDA DATE: January 24, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 7, 14
DEPARTMENT: Office of Equity and Inclusion
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a twelve-month subrecipient agreement to serve as an extension to the contract agreement with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas to provide legal services to Dallas residential tenants at risk of eviction and homelessness due to financial hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic for the period February 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025 - Not to exceed $240,000.00 - Financing: American Rescue Plan Act Funds
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BACKGROUND
In 2021, the City of Dallas created the Dallas Eviction Assistance Initiative to continue mitigation of evictions efforts in Dallas. The initiative establishes an evictions program where direct legal services will be provided to Dallas residents who are low-income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, specifically those at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and residents negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the initiative is to mitigate Dallas residents finding themselves facing eviction and possible homelessness without the resources to retain legal representation. The goal of Eviction Assistance Initiative-2 (EAI-2) has been established to provide legal support to prevent evictions and assist in preventing homelessness. The purpose of this initiative is to assist vulnerable Dallas tenants who are facing evictions and possible homelessness due to financial hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in Council Districts 7 and 14.
Due to COVID-19 financial hardships, residential tenants have faced the threat of eviction and homelessness. Evictions data from the Child Poverty Action Lab (northtexasevictions.org) shows varying fluctuations pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. It has been found tha...
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