Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, LASCO, a non-profit corporation, in an amount up to $1,500,000.00, to enable the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio to be the Designated Organization as defined in the Columbus City Codes and to make available free full legal representation to unrepresented tenants facing eviction from their homes at Franklin County Municipal Court and to authorize the payment of expenditures prior to the execution of the purchase order beginning March 1, 2026.
Eviction filings in Columbus and Franklin County are at a historic high, as the region faces an affordable housing crisis. Evictions have negative effects on both families and the Columbus community. Statistics show overwhelmingly that tenants who have representation have a better chance at remaining in their home. However, the vast majority of low-income households facing an eviction cannot afford an attorney to represent them while property owners are almost always represented. This dynamic makes it difficult for tenants to defend themselves and negotiate an outcome that reduces the impact of the eviction filing on their family.
In December 2024 the City of Columbus enacted legislation (Ordinance 3510-2024) amending Columbus City Codes (sections 4551.08 and 4551.081) in order to provide access to legal services for low income residents as defined in the Code. The purpose of this grant funding is to enable the Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio to be the Designated Organization as defined in the Columbus City Codes and to make available free full legal representation to unrepresented tenants facing eviction from their homes at Franklin County Municipal Court.
The Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) offers free noncriminal legal help for people with low incomes, veterans, and seniors in 36 counties. Their mission is to ...
Click here for full text