Department: County Courts
Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Wells
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by the County Courts for approval of two positions effective November 4, 2023 and $1,091,100 in ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for the County Civil Courts at Law Eviction Appeal docket.
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Background and Discussion:
In 2023, Harris County invested $4M through the ARPA Housing Portfolio to offer Legal Aid and counseling to residents at risk of eviction. The Texas Eviction Diversion Program, which concluded on July 1, 2023, permitted tenants to temporarily halt their eviction while seeking rental assistance. However, even before the program's termination, evictions began to increase due to the decreasing availability of rental aid funds. Moreover, the Harris County Civil Courts at Law have seen a significant uptick in evictions and appeals over the past two years.
The proposed solution is to grant the Civil Courts the necessary funds for an Associate Judge, Coordinator, and Clerk to hear eviction appeal cases and reduce the days to disposition for eviction appeal cases. The non-labor costs include user technology and furniture for the room used as a courtroom for the docket. The appeal process should be timely and remove undue financial and mental stress for both parties. This process serves as an essential avenue for tenants and landlords to fully assert their legal rights.
Expected Impact:
Reducing the time to disposition for eviction appeals ensures that both landlords and tenants can attain resolutions more swiftly. This aids in alleviating the financial and emotional strains linked with extended legal proce...
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