Lexington’s federal eviction relief money is nearly gone. What happens next?
In an effort to keep more renters from being evicted, Lexington is using $1.9 million in federal money earmarked for eviction relief to hire lawyers to represent renters in court.
The city set up a pilot program in Fayette County District Court Judge Denotra Gunther’s court in the fall to hire lawyers to represent renters. That program was very effective in helping renters avoid an eviction judgment.
An eviction on a renter’s record can make it difficult and sometimes impossible for renters to find another rental property.
“Research shows the tenants get better outcomes when they have access to legal representation and mediation services,” said Charlie Lanter, Commissioner for Housing Advocacy and Community Development. “Coupled with our remaining work in rent assistance, these initiatives will expand our ability to prevent evictions.”
The pilot program provided 10 tenants with lawyers. Everyone who participated was able to come to a resolution and the renters walked away without an eviction on their record, Lanter said.
Under the program, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass and Kentucky Equal Justice Center will provide mediation services and access to legal counsel.
Since February 2021, Lexington has spent more than $46.5 million in federal coronavirus relief money to help 6,337 households stay housed or pay past due rent and utilities. Money has gone to 1,100 landlords. During the height of the pandemic, the program was designed to keep people housed when unemployment was high, many kids were still learning from home and COVID vaccines were not readily available.
“A lot of families avoided evictions,” said Mayor Linda Gorton during a press conference Tuesday announcing the new mediation program. “We were able to keep thousands of people in their homes.”
But that money is almost exhausted.
To prepare for the loss in funding, the city clamped down on who could receive that money earlier this year to make sure that only those with an imminent threat of eviction could access the funds. The mediation program is a way to help stop evictions without abruptly stopping the program.
Lanter said studies show that employing lawyers for renters can help avoid evictions. Almost all landlords in Kentucky have lawyers but most tenants do not, Lanter and others have said.
Rich Seckel of the Kentucky Equal Justice Center said housing stability is key for “children to learn and parents to parent.” Seckel said the program will not only connect tenants with lawyers but also connect tenants with other programs and services.
Lanter said they hope to have the program up and running within the next month. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass and Kentucky Equal Justice Center will need to hire additional lawyers to staff the program.
The city will track the program to look at outcomes. If mediation works, as it has in other cities, the city hopes it can find other funding for the program, Lanter said.
