Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will discuss possible ways the county could ensure that people facing evictions have legal representation and weigh in on numerous questions county staff members have.
Local housing advocates have been pushing for tenant right to counsel, which could help people stay housed and avoid homelessness. An external review in Kansas City, Missouri found that one year after implementing TRTC, “86% of represented tenants stayed housed and had no eviction record.” A decade’s worth of data from the National Coalition for Civil Right to Counsel demonstrates TRTC’s success in other cities.
An ordinance proposed by local advocacy group Lawrence Tenants, developed in collaboration with multiple local experts and lawyers, would cover every tenant regardless of their income; cover any legal proceeding where a tenant could lose their housing or housing subsidy; provide legal representation; and require that the county contract with nonprofit legal providers for the service.
Dozens of advocates who have spoken to the commission during meetings in August and September pushed for approval of the ordinance on Oct. 1.
However, the commission’s agenda item reflects that county staff members have a lot more questions for the commissioners to consider, and subsequent discussions to hold, before a program could launch.
Commissioners will weigh in on whether tenant right to counsel should be included in the county code; which potential partners staff should consult; which proceedings would potentially be subject to the program; budgetary estimates; whether a Douglas County program should include income restrictions and more, according to the agenda item.
County staff members are not asking the commission to take any action on the TRTC agenda item.
In addition, commissioners will hold a 4 p.m. work session about supportive housing community partnerships, including Cardinal Housing Network, DCCCA, the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, Lawrence Family Promise and Tenants to Homeowners.
Commissioners will meet for the 4 p.m. work session and for their 5:30 p.m. business meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the historic courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.
Written public comment may be submitted to the commission up to 24 hours ahead of the meeting time by emailing publiccomment@dgcoks.gov. People may also give public comment in person during business meetings in person or virtually via Zoom.
The Zoom link is available on this page. See the full meeting agenda at this link.
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Resources for renters and tenants
Tenant issues and rights:
• Read about the rights Kansas tenants have and issues that could come up before, during and after tenancy from Kansas Legal Services.
• Find more info and connect with Lawrence Tenants.
Evictions:
• Learn about the eviction process from the Kansas Judicial Branch at this link.
• Check out the self-help page on the Douglas County District Court’s website at dgcoks.gov/district-court/self-help for resources and helpful forms.
City of Lawrence fair housing help:
• Find information about the city’s fair housing civil rights enforcement procedures and a form to initiate a complaint on the city’s website at lawrenceks.org/attorney/fairhousing, or call 785-832-3310.
• Read more about the city’s source of income discrimination ban at lawrenceks.org/attorney/soi.
Rental assistance:
• Apply for help from the Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative via the county’s website at this link.
• Apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP, at this link during colder months to help cover home energy costs.
• Find more resources to help with rent and utility payments on the Lawrence Public Library’s website.
News coverage:
• See the latest articles from The Lawrence Times on the following topics: homelessness and housing; renter rights; source of income discrimination; affordable housing
Latest Lawrence news:
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
