Harris County Commissioners Court threw a lifeline to attorneys providing free services to tenants, awarding $4M in contracts to legal aid organizations.
Dozens of people wait for their names to be called outside of the courtroom at the Justice of the Peace Court 5-1 on Chimney Rock Rd. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. The nonprofit Lone Star Legal Aid won a $2.6 million contract with Harris County so that a group of attorneys known as the Eviction Defense Coalition can continue providing free on-the-spot legal services in courthouses.When Colby Cummings arrived at her eviction hearing, she'd hardly slept.
Dozens of organizations across Houston argue that Cummings' experience should be what tenants at every eviction docket experience — and for a almost a year during the pandemic, they did. But as funds for lawyers who provide free, on-the-spot legal services ran low, legal aid lawyers found themselves forced to pick which dockets they could attend.
However, some jurisdictions, including Baltimore and Philadelphia, have passed laws guaranteeing the right to a lawyer to low-income renters facing eviction. Five years after New York City implemented a right to counsel, eviction filings declined by about 30 percent,In Harris County, the situation is more complicated. An ad-hoc right to counsel has been stitched together by emergency orders guaranteeing legal aid’s access to courthouses and various organizations funding the lawyers’ time.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Commissioners Court approves $7.4M for improvements at Harris County JailOn Tuesday, the Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved $7.4 million to allow for improvements at the Harris County Jail.
Read more »
Harris Co. Commissioners approve plan to address issues at county jailA new plan to tackle ongoing serious issues at the Harris County Jail was approved by county commissioners on Tuesday.
Read more »
Harris County Commissioners Court Approves Reproductive Health Access FundIn a bid to protect residents’ already restricted access to reproductive health care, Harris County officials voted to approve a proposed fund to go toward Harris County Public Health and smaller community organizations at Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting. The reproductive health care access fund passed on a 4 to 1...
Read more »
Clay County commissioners discuss major capital investments with fire chief, sheriffAmid a population spike, Clay County leaders have begun discussions on major capital investments for the area, including things like a new jail and improvements to major roads.
Read more »
The drag show must go on: Porter County commissioners can’t stop Expo Center eventAn upcoming drag event at the Porter County Expo Center that was initially advertised as free to children 12 and under saw several protesters at Tuesday’s Porter County Board of Commissioners meeting. Through their attorney the board has asked for the wording regarding children to be removed and the event organizer Rogue Syndicate has complied.
Read more »
Harris County OKs measures to support adding courts, public defendersThe measures passed by Commissioners Court are intended to help ease the county's court...
Read more »