To: Harris County Commissioners Court
Through: Adrienne M. Holloway, Ph.D., Executive Director, Community Services
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Prepared By: Adrienne M. Holloway, Ph.D., Executive Director, Community Services
Subject: Harris County COVID-19 Housing and Legal Services Program
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Project ID (If applicable]:
Purpose and Request:
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Request by Community Services for approval of a one-year Agreement, prepared by the County Attorney, between Harris County and Lone Star Legal Aid which is a part of the Eviction Defense Coalition whose other members include South Texas College of Law Houston, Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, University of Houston Law Center, and Houston Volunteer Lawyers, to administer the Harris County COVID-19 Housing and Legal Services program in support of legal services for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the amount of $1,000,000 funded by COVID Response and Recovery Funds, approved by Commissioners Court on November 10, 2020.
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Background and Discussion:
Background and Discussion:
The County anticipates an increased number of evictions, especially for non-payment of rent due to household financial losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lift of the National Center for Disease and Control (CDC) eviction moratorium. Accordingly, it has determined that to maximize the impact of its COVID-19 rental assistance fund, making economic development short-term, non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief in the form of consulting, referral, legal, and other related legal services directed to cure legal needs due to COVID-19 for qualifying applicants in Harris County, Texas will further the objectives of the County, benefit the County and its residents, and serve the broader purpose of protecting the health, safety, and economic welfare of Harris County, Texas residents.
Further, assistance provided through this agreement will aid the economy by reducing the number of people who lack shelter to help the local economy, tax base, and public health in a time when protecting the health of the whole community may require social distancing, limitations on resident activities, and the ability for residents to shelter in place, and by stimulating and encouraging business and commercial activity in the County caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On November 10, 2020, Commissioners Court approved an order allocating $1,000,000 of CARES funds to support efforts to increase access to justice for renters at risk of eviction. Accordingly, Harris County Community Services Department requests approval to contract with Lone Star Legal Aid and the remaining members of the Eviction Defense Coalition to provide eviction prevention services to qualified residents of Harris County.
Fiscal Impact:
[INSTRUCTIONS: A short description of the cost of the request and where you are requesting funding from. No more than 2 sentences. In addition please fill out the table below. This includes financial impact to the current fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years along with the source of funding (general fund, grant, etc.). If the amount is within the current budget, please indicate the amount from ‘Existing Department Budget'. If all of or part of the request is a new expense, please indicate funding source in the space provided.]
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Fiscal Summary |
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Expenditures |
FY 20-21 |
FY 21-22 Projected |
Future Years Projected [3 additional years] |
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Service Impacted: Community Services Department |
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Existing Budget |
0 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$1,000,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Department Budget |
Budget Management |
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Please Identify Funding Source (General Fund, PIC, Special Revenue, Grant, Etc.) |
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Response and Recovery Funds |
$1,000,000 |
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Total Sources |
$1,000,000 |
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Alternatives:
[INSTRUCTIONS: In this section you should briefly discuss any viable alternatives, including the benefits and consequences of each. Include subtitles on the first line of each alternative to identify it. If appropriate, the financial impact of each alternative can be discussed. If taking no action is a viable alternative it should also be discussed, including any financial or other impacts that would result.]
Alignment with Strategic Objective:
[INSTRUCTIONS: Please write out the Department Strategic Objective impacted by this item.]
Attachments:
Agenda Letter
Nov. 10, 2020 COVID-19 Supplemental Agenda