Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☐ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
To Approve a District 6 American Rescue Plan Funding of $100,000 to Establish a DeKalb County Eviction Defense Fund to Assist Qualified Residents with Legal Representation
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
To approve a District 6 ARP funding of $100,000 to establish the DeKalb County Eviction Defense Fund. This fund will assist with legal representation to qualified residents who lack the resources to properly represent themselves while navigating through the DeKalb County Court eviction process.
NEED/IMPACT:
DeKalb County established the Tenant-Landlord Assistance Coalition (TLAC), the rental assistance program the during the COVID pandemic. The fund was designed to help those threatened by eviction during the pandemic. TLAC funds are once again in crisis. The need has exceeded, once again, the appropriated amount. Many renters, especially those in marginalized communities struggled pre-pandemic, have not recovered from the ramifications of Covid, and are struggling to keep a roof over their head. The problem is expected to get worse in the coming months as federal rental assistance money runs out and people are unable to keep pace with rising rents and decades-high inflation.
Establishing A DeKalb Eviction Defense Fund, using $100,000 of the District 6 ARP funding will support legal representation to qualified residents as they mitigate through the DeKalb County Court process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$100K from the 2023 District 6 ARP appropriation account 106388.63230.521209.10.06.602778 to establish the DeKalb County Eviction Defense Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the D6 ARP funding request and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents.