Primary Department: Housing and Community Development
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request that the County Judge execute an agreement with Lone Star Legal Aid for a sum not to exceed $500,000 in General Funds for the purpose of representing indigent defendants facing imminent eviction proceedings within Harris County.
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Background and Discussion:
Utilizing COVID-19 resources, LSLA began providing eviction indigent defense services early into the pandemic across the County, in coordination with other providers and federal rental assistance resources. In September 2026, LSLA will close ARPA-funded contracted services. Concurrently, Commissioners Court approved Housing & Community Development to enter into an agreement with the Houston Eviction Advocacy Center (“HEAC”) to begin a pilot for increasing indigent defense representation for residents facing imminent eviction proceedings for the duration of FY26 using FLEX funds.
Since then, both HEAC and LSLA have exceeded their initial targets, and their combined performance shows strong demand, high efficiency, and significant return on public investment. For the coming FY26, HCD requests approval of a new General Funded contract with LSLA through a professional services agreement, which will support their service workflows including in-court indigent defense, repair-remedy resolution support, and appeals legal supp...
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