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ACTION ITEM - Discussion of Rental Assistance to Support Tenants Facing Eviction as an Extension of Right to Counsel Programming
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Meeting Date: May 14, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services
Shannon Louis, Housing and Human Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-5787
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Housing and Homelessness Subcommittee (xx/xx/xxxx)
Department Approval Name, Title Date: Tevis Barnes, Housing and Human Services Director (05/07/2025) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council Standing Subcommittee on Housing and Homelessness discuss considerations to provide rental assistance as an extension of right to counsel programming to tenants facing eviction.
BACKGROUND
On March 3, 2025 the City Council directed staff to prepare an urgency ordinance establishing a Tenant Right to Counsel Program. On March 17, 2025, after discussing the options for a Tenant Right to Counsel Program, the City Council introduced an interim ordinance which would establish a Tenant Right to Counsel Program for a period of 12-months (the "Pilot Program"). On April 14, 2025, staff returned to Council with the interim ordinance and Pilot Program provisions for consideration and adoption. Council did not adopt the Tenant Right to Counsel Program. During that meeting, Council directed staff to return with options for a direct rental assistance program as an extension of right to counsel programming for Council to determine how to allocate resources to these programs.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this staff report is to provide information related to rental assistance programs in nearby jurisdictions provided as an extension to existing or expanding right to counsel programming. Staff met with City of Santa Monica an...
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