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 t...
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