Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Topeka committee reviews renter safety net: counseling, legal aid and a new community navigator
Summary
The Public Health & Safety Committee heard updates on tenant counseling calls and workshops, Kansas Legal Services’ increased courtroom representation after a city contract, HUD relocation assistance at Timberly, and plans to create a city 'community navigator' to connect residents with services.
The Topeka City Council Public Health and Safety Committee on Wednesday reviewed a suite of renter-support efforts that city staff said are intended to reduce eviction, increase tenant education and connect residents to relocation aid when properties lose subsidy.
Committee Chair Karen Hiller said the panel would “focus on changing our culture of property maintenance today,” and framed the session around the committee’s December 2021 initiative and seven objectives tied to a renter safety net. The meeting centered on counseling and legal help, outreach and a planned city community navigator position.
Housing services division director Carrie Higgins reported that Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI) logged counseling and outreach last year that staff consider part of the safety net. Higgins said HCCI recorded “242 calls, were regarding landlord issues” including mold, maintenance, fair-housing and bed bugs; “49 calls, regarding late rent, but there was no eviction filed…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
