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RESOLUTION APPROVING GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, INC., A FLORIDA NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY, FOR A GRANT AWARD OF UP TO $2,900,000.00 FOR AN EVICTION DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAM, WITH SUB-GRANT AWARDS TO THE CUBAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, PRO BONO SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $321,153.00, THE MIAMI WORKERS CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $384,184.00, THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $94,380.00, THE HAITIAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000.00, AND THE WILKIE D. FERGUSON, JR. BAR ASSOCIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000.00; WAIVING RESOLUTION NO. R 130-06 REQUIRING THAT CONTRACTS BE EXECUTED BY ALL NON-COUNTY PARTIES PRIOR TO PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR APPROVAL; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE GRANT AGREEMENT AND EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated in this resolution by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that: ?????

Section 1. The foregoing recitals are approved and incorporated into this resolution.

Section 2. This Board approves the Grant Agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1, between Miami-Dade County and the Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit entity, for a grant award in the amount of up to $2,900,000.00, for an eviction diversion pilot program, with sub-grant awards to The Cuban American Bar Association, Pro Bono Services in the amount of $321,153.00, the Miami Workers Center in the amount of $384,184.00, the Community Justice Project in the amount of $94,380.00, the Haitian Lawyers Association in the amount of $125,000.00, and the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association in the amount of $125,000.00, and authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to execute the Grant Agreement and exercise all provisions contained therein.

Section 3. This Board waives the requirements of Resolution No. R-130-06, requiring all parties-other than the County-to execute agreements prior to presentation to this Board for approval.

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Date:
To: Honorable Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor

Subject: Resolution Authorizing Execution of Grant Agreement for $2,900,000.00 to Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. for Eviction Diversion Pilot Program

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Executive Summary
The purpose of this item is to approve a grant agreement (Agreement) of up to $2,900,000.00 from funds in the adopted FY 2022-23 budget to Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (LSGMI), a Florida not-for-profit corporation, legal aid provider that has served low-income residents in Miami-Dade County for over 50 years.

With this funding from the County, LSGMI, will lead an Eviction Diversion Pilot program (Program) which will provide (1) direct outreach to residents facing evictions and (2) legal assistance to keep residents facing eviction in their homes. LSGMI will also use the grant to provide funding to a cohort of not-for-profit organizations to assist in the Program. Those organizations, which will serve as sub-grantees, are: Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) Pro Bono Legal Services; Community Justice Project (CJP); Miami Workers Center (MWC); Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA); and The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association (WDFBA). These organizations will provide such services as legal assistance to residents facing eviction, door-to-door outreach to residents facing eviction, recruitment and training of volunteer attorneys to handle eviction defense cases, tenant education workshops, and program evaluation. Additional details of the Program are set forth in the Mayor�s Updated Information for Community Needs Assessment Regarding Legal Assistance for Evictions � Directive No. 221754.

Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve the attached resolution which approves a grant agreement of up to $2,900,000.00 to LSGMI, for an Eviction Diversion Pilot program, with sub-grant awards to CABA Pro Bono Services in the amount of $321,153.00, MWC in the amount of $384,184.00, CJP in the amount of $94,380.00, HLA in the amount of $125,000.00, and WDFBA in the amount of $125,000.00.

Scope
The scope of the work done by LSGMI and sub-grantees will be countywide.

Delegation of Authority
If adopted, this resolution delegates authority to the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to execute the Agreement between LSGMI and exercise all provisions contained therein.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The fiscal impact of this item is $2,900,000.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds which was approved by the Board for this purpose in the FY 2022-23 adopted budget.

Track Record/Monitor
Delores Holley, Director of the Office of Housing Advocacy, or other designee of the County Mayor will be responsible for monitoring the attached Agreement.

Background
The Eviction Diversion Pilot program (Program) is being proposed in response to Resolution No. R-711-22, sponsored by Commissioner Eileen Higgins, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 19, 2022, directing the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to develop a Community Needs Assessment evaluating the need among low-income residents in Miami-Dade County for legal representation or legal services during landlord disputes and the eviction process for the upcoming fiscal year, and to identify nonprofit legal services organizations capable of providing such legal representation or services, and to identify available funding consistent with the Community Needs Assessment in the Mayor�s Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 County Budget.

A Community Needs Assessment conducted by the Administration found there is significant need among the County�s low-income residents for legal representation during landlord disputes and the eviction process, and a program designed to support free or low-cost legal assistance could benefit residents, landlords, and the local homeless continuum of care. A program that includes direct outreach to residents facing eviction and funding for legal assistance would complement the County�s existing programs designed to address the affordability crisis and keep residents in their homes. Existing programs and services offered by the County include the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), CourtHELP, and new Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing preservation programs.

The Administration has worked with LSGMI, CABA Pro Bono Legal Services, CJP, HLA, WDFBA, and MWC to create a Program that will: (1) provide free legal assistance to households at-risk or subject to eviction; (2) create a comprehensive referral and intake process system to render legal assistance to residents across a number of legal service providers; (3) launch door-to-door canvassing to households that have received a eviction filing to refer residents to County services; (4) roll out a series of community trainings across the County on tenant rights and programs; and (5) share data with the County on resident housing needs and service gaps to improve County plans and processes.

This Program will provide direct legal assistance to at least 800 low-income County residents at or below 80 percent Area Median Income ($78,000 for a family of four), which would double the number of tenants receiving legal representation in local eviction proceedings. Counsel offered to low-income tenants under this program could include legal advice, research, analysis, and representation in cases that impact a tenant's ability to maintain or obtain stable housing.


Through door-to-door outreach and education services, this Program will (1) better inform residents of existing protections under the County�s Tenant Bill of Rights Ordinance, and (2) effectively connect residents to existing services, including those provided by the Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) and Public Housing and Community Development Department (PHCD). Outreach workers will conduct weekly door-to-door canvassing of those residents who received an eviction notice to educate them on the eviction process, refer residents to available County resources (e.g. Emergency Rental Assistance, CourtHELP, case management support), and connect eligible residents to LSGMI for intake processing.

This targeted canvasing initiative will increase the County�s outreach capacity and better serve residents at-risk of displacement, including low-income families, older adults, and persons with disabilities. Moreover, tenants in Florida only have five days to respond to an eviction proceeding before receiving a judgment and immediate outreach to residents facing an eviction can help ensure tenants do not miss this short deadline.

Legal providers in the Program will also offer intake support at CAHSD�s Community Resource Centers situated across the County. Additionally, Program partners will lead a series of community trainings and office hours across the County on tenant rights and programs in partnership with the County�s Office of Housing Advocacy (OHA), District Commission Offices, among other stakeholders, to ensure that the areas most affected throughout the County have access to these services.

Legal assistance, outreach, and service referral support will be provided in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Additionally, LSGMI has the capacity to assist clients who speak other languages through the use of on-demand translation services.

Program partners will refer residents to existing County services and share novel data with the County on resident housing needs and service gaps, which will enhance County housing plans and programs. This data will enable the County to better track and respond to all forms of residential displacement and housing issues, from wrongful evictions to building maintenance issues and condemnations. The Program will also include regular data and evaluation reports to the County to assess impact.

This Program is a pilot project that will 1) assist hundreds of at-risk tenants and their families, and 2) assess the impact of legal presentation on the housing stability of the residents served.



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Morris Copeland
Chief of Community Services