Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 5
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): District 5
An item to allocate $100,000 of the American Rescue Plan funds, reserved for District 5 appropriations to DeKalb Pro Bono (formerly DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Association) for the purpose of providing legal assistance to tenant and landlord eviction disputes in DeKalb County and other COVID-19 related purposes
Body
Information Contact: Mereda Davis Johnson
Phone Number: 404-371-2159
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this agenda item is to allocate funding to DeKalb Pro Bono (formerly DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation) from the American Rescue Plan funds to provide legal assistance for tenant and landlord eviction disputes in DeKalb County. DeKalb Pro Bono exits to benefit the citizens of DeKalb County, Georgia and to promote the administration of justice by developing, operating, and administering programs for the provision by attorneys in DeKalb County, Georgia, of volunteer legal services to low-income persons involved in civil matters, and to engage in any lawful activities related thereto.
DeKalb Pro Bono is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been incorporated since June 1, 1982 with the sole purpose to connect indigent residents involved in civil legal matters to attorneys who provide them with free legal services. Many of its clients are underemployed and or unemployed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEED/IMPACT:
With the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for legal assistance in landlord tenant evictions is prevalent. This agenda item will designate $100,000 of District 5 American Rescue Plan funding to provide assistance to DeKalb County citizens who need the assistance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
To allocate:
• $100,000 to The DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the resolution and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents....