The Phoenix City Council has approved $1.2 million in federal funds to provide legal assistance to qualified residents facing eviction. The money, which comes from the city’s share of American Rescue Act funds, will go to qualified vendors to provide mediation, representation and other legal services.
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington, who is also an attorney, asked that contracts include more data, including the average wait time for someone to be connected with a lawyer.
“We know that the eviction process is a very expedited process and if individuals are not getting to the counsel in a speedy fashion, are we really helping that person at that juncture?” she said. “I also want us to keep track of things such as, like I said, some of the more categories of favorable and unfavorable legal rulings. Are we actually seeing this be part of the solution when it comes to reducing evictions?”
According to the Eviction Lab, a research organization at Princeton University, Maricopa County had more than 78,000 eviction filings over the past year. That’s 22% higher than the national average.
The city’s Tenant Eviction Assistance Project (TEAP) provides free legal help and representation for resident facing an eviction crisis through Community Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm. For more information, call 602-385-8880.
Three Family Service Centers, operated by the city, offer eviction prevention, rental and utility assistance programs as funding is available. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 602-534-AIDE(2433) or 1-866-882-1778 or, by completing an application at phoenix.gov/phxhelp4u portal.
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