Explanation
This legislation authorizes an amendment to Ordinance No. 2089-2023, passed by Columbus City Council on August 2, 2023, in support of the Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) to provide legal representation to residents facing an eviction, and to authorize payment of expenses such as salaries and fringe, consultants and professional services, travel to conferences, space costs and rentals, bank charges, postage, printing, training, insurance, membership dues, legal library subscriptions, research related, litigation, interpreter expenses, and technology, starting January 1, 2024.
Ordinance No. 0240-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on 1/24/2024, authorizes the assignment of all existing and future business done by the City of Columbus with Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC) to Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO). This change will reflect a company merger and subsequent name change and Federal Identification Number change for all existing and future contracts and purchase orders established using the name Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC).
Ordinance No. 2089-2023 authorized the Director of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service agreement with the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) in an amount up to $1,500,000.00 in support of the Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) to provide legal representation to residents facing an eviction.
Tenants with legal representation are much more likely to avoid an eviction judgment and keep possession of their homes than unrepresented tenants. In addition to these primary effects, a right to counsel offers several secondary benefits to defendants who are sued for eviction. Attorneys may be able to keep eviction filings off tenants’ records, arrange for alternative housing, negotiate reasonable amounts of time for tenants to move out, reduce or eliminate money owed to the landlord, or help tenants apply for rental assistance.
With these dollars, the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central ...
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