TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, to provide Right-to-Counsel services for people facing eviction, in an amount of $250,000, for a period of one year, commencing upon the execution date, with the option to renew annually for up to three years, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
During the budget adoption process, the City Council added $250,000 to the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 21) Budget for tenant Right-to-Counsel and directed staff to return with an appropriate program to oversee the expenditure. The funds are intended to assist tenants facing eviction due to direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic impact. With high unemployment rates, complex eviction moratorium regulations at the local, county, state and federal level, as well as a housing supply and affordability crisis that predates COVID-19, the effort will seek to keep Long Beach residents housed and encourage the collaboration and compromise among all parties in any tenancy dispute.
Staff evaluated three options for utilizing the funds budgeted by the City Council: (1) construct a new program administered by City staff who would procure contract legal services; (2) contract with to existing City service providers for new legal services; or (3) partner with another governmental agency to provide necessary legal services. Contracting with the County of Los Angeles (County) was determined to be the best available option due to the County’s ability to immediately provide these services through its existing program compared to the start-up time and costs for the City to create its own program.
The County’s program is operating today and is administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs countywide with a focus on the most...
Click here for full text