Douglas County staff, some advocates divided on contractor for eviction defense pilot program

Douglas County staff want to award Kansas Legal Services a contract to run a pilot eviction defense program. Some community advocates prefer Kansas Holistic Defenders because the group is already doing eviction defense work in the county and can represent undocumented people.

Once the tenant eviction defense program is up and running, the contracted nonprofit legal service provider will attend the weekly answer docket, which is when tenants who have received an eviction notice have a chance to deny claims that a landlord has made in a petition. The provider and project team will work to speak with renters as well as property owners or landlords at the docket.

In April, county staff issued an informal request for proposals to KLS and KHD, and both organizations applied. They will ask commissioners to review their recommendation for the $40,000 contract on Wednesday.

Staff members used a county scoring matrix, which rated KLS’ submission at 97% and KHD’s at 81%. They are recommending that commissioners approve a contract with KLS based on the score and the organization’s work history, collaboration with state agencies and municipalities throughout Kansas, and access to different funding streams that serve populations such as seniors and veterans.

For the past two years, KLS has run a similar eviction defense program in Topeka. According to its application, team members have “represented thousands of Kansans in housing matters over several decades.” They have a history of local education efforts, and they staff the Douglas County District Court Self-Help Center one day per week.

Gabi Sprauge, of Lawrence Tenants, wrote a letter supporting KHD. Lawrence Tenants is the local renters union that has advocated for an eviction defense initiative. 

“Lawrence Tenants has worked alongside KHD for years — they have joined us at events, responded to referrals, and worked with us to make sure renters understand what to expect when they receive an eviction notice,” Sprague wrote. “That kind of proactive outreach is exactly what the TED program will need to reach the renters most at risk.”

In the application, Sam Allison-Natale, executive director of KHD, wrote that the group “has been the only organization providing free full-representation eviction defense and brief service at the Douglas County answer docket.”

He also wrote that KHD has been maintaining a database of all eviction cases for the last six months, whether or not they take the case on. KHD currently fully represents 40% of the tenants they meet with, and they secure case dismissals 80% of the time, according to his cover letter.

“The problem is capacity … we simply lack the attorney hours to do more for everyone who needs help,” Allison-Natale wrote.

Per the application, TED pilot funding could allow KHD to serve more tenants, and they would subcontract with KLS.

KHD also wrote in the application that they could represent people who are undocumented. KLS cannot, with specific exceptions for victims of abuse and certain refugee statuses, as it is subject to Legal Services Corporation restrictions.

Mariel Ferreiro wrote a letter supporting KHD on these grounds. Ferreiro is the co-founder of Sanctuary Alliance, a Lawrence-based collective advocating for immigrant rights. She said the group has long worked with KHD, and that immigrants increasingly need legal support in evictions.

“People who entered the U.S. without inspection are some of the most in need of eviction defense services,” Ferreiro wrote. “As ICE raids increase, more heads of household will be deported, leading to evictions for the families they support financially. Landlords are using the threat of enforcement and increasing intimidation to deter tenants from asserting their legal rights.”

If commissioners approve KLS’ proposal Wednesday, staff will work with the Self Help Center and KLS to create a project plan. The pilot program is set to run from June 1 to Dec. 31.

Meeting info

The commission meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 in the commission chamber of the historic courthouse at 1100 Massachusetts St. 

See the commission’s full agenda at this link, and find info to attend the meeting via Zoom at this link. 

The commission welcomes written public comment until 24 hours before the meeting begins. Email written public comment to [email protected]. If you can’t email comments, written comments may be placed in the county’s dropbox in the south parking lot adjacent to the courthouse. The commission also hears live public comment during meetings.

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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at [email protected].

Read their complete bio here. Read their work for the Times here.

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