Department: Purchasing
Department Head/Elected Official: Paige McInnis
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Renewal
Project ID (if applicable): 230381
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Non-Divisible
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of a renewal option with Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative for immigrant resource hotline for the Housing and Community Development Department for the period of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 at a cost of $100,000 (230381), Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Non-Divisible.
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Background and Discussion:
More than two million people living in the United States are currently facing removal from the country in
immigration court, and millions more are at risk of being placed in removal proceedings at any time. Despite
the complexity of immigration law and the devastating consequences of deportation, and unlike in the
criminal legal system, people facing removal do not have a legal right to representation at government
expense if they are unable to afford it. In Houston, there are almost 100,000 cases pending in Houston's four
non-detained immigration courts, and 90 percent of people go unrepresented. The average non-detained case
takes between 560 to 1,218 days to resolve, leaving the lives of these families hanging in limbo for years. The
Immigrant Resource Hotline is the central entry point for these families seeking legal assistance as well as
social services and healthcare referrals. By creating an entry point to immigration information and legal
assistance, the Hotline is key to breaking down access barriers and streamlining access to services and support
system for members of our immigrant community.
Expected Impact:
The Imm...
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