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Council renews contract with Kansas Legal Services to administer eviction‑defense program

3654943 · May 21, 2025

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Summary

The council approved a professional services contract renewal with Kansas Legal Services to continue administering the city’s eviction‑defense program for housing services; staff provided a year‑one summary comparing services before and after the contract.

Rhiannon Freeman, planning and development director, and Carrie Higgins, housing division manager, presented a contract renewal on May 20 to continue a professional services agreement between the City of Topeka and Kansas Legal Services (KLS) to administer the eviction‑defense program for the housing services division.

Freeman said KLS ran its first program year from May 2024 through April 2025 and staff provided a comparative summary of services to Topeka tenants before and during the contract period. Council members praised the work and emphasized that the city's intent in supporting the contract a year earlier was to expand availability of services rather than replace other funding. Councilwoman Miller said the top goal is prevention of filings and that education and outreach remain priorities; Freeman said KLS has offered training and outreach previously.

Councilwoman Miller moved to approve the contract renewal; Councilwoman Hiller seconded. The council voted 9–0 to renew the contract.