STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Human and Social Needs
AGENDA DATE: December 8, 2021
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Equity and Inclusion
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize (1) Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the subrecipient 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; and (2) to extend the term of the contract for an additional six months from the existing service contract period of December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2021, now to June 30, 2022 - Not to exceed $250,000.00, from $200,000.00 to $450,000.00 - Financing: 2020 CARES Act Relief CDBG #3 Fund
Body
BACKGROUND
The subrecipient agreement provided for eviction legal services for the Dallas Eviction Assistance Initiative. The Evictions Assistance Initiative was created 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.
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 that evictions increased during periods where moratoriums expired. This includes an increase after the Dallas County eviction moratorium that expired May 18, 202...
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