Title
Bid Award for Legal Assistance for Eviction Prevention (B)
Explanation
The Housing & Community Development Division (HCD) is seeking Commission approval to retain the services of Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS), as a result of their successful selection during the recent Request for Proposal (RFP) process. HCD is committed to the protection and enforcement of tenant rights; and to assist in the prevention of evictions. As a result, the City of Gainesville (City) sought proposals from qualified non-profit or for-profit legal services organizations or attorneys interested in providing informational/educational sessions as well as legal services to City of Gainesville tenants.
Services to be provided will include informational/educational sessions to the community at-large regarding tenant rights. Additionally, individualized counseling and/or representation of income-qualified tenants in eviction proceedings (as deemed warranted and prudent in the professional judgment of the provider), will be offered.
Individualized legal services will be available to all income-qualified city residents. However, the City recognizes that certain tenants may be particularly vulnerable for a variety of reasons; including historical discrimination, reduced ability to access needed services because of income limitations, or less likelihood of accessing services that help tenants. Therefore, income-qualified tenants residing in the following designated neighborhoods will be given priority: NW 5th Avenue, Pleasant Street, Porters, Duval, Lincoln Estates, and Grove Street.
Three Rivers Legal Services will provide services at the following cost:
Hourly rate for counseling - $100.00
Hourly rate for eviction proceeding representation - $100.00
Flat fee for outreach and marketing - cost per year - $1,000.00
In review of the Request for Proposal, the committee agreed that TRLS met all programmatic requirements in response to minimum q...
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