Council discusses continuing funding for eviction right-to-counsel program amid larger wish-list requests

Council members on the Budget & Finance Committee reviewed funding for the Eviction Right to Counsel program on Wednesday as part of a larger "wish list" of budget requests.

The committee heard that the ERTC program is currently funded from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars at about $2.3 million for the coming year. Committee members and presenters said advocates are asking Metro to supplement that amount so the combined request would be roughly $5 million, combining mayoral and council requests.

Committee discussion emphasized the program's services: tenant education, mediation and rental assistance partnerships, and attorney representation for tenants in eviction court. A presenter said the program returned measurable benefits and that a full, citywide scale-up outlined in a recent plan would cost about $9 million; organizers are pursuing public‑private partnerships to reach that figure and are asking Metro to contribute additional funds in the interim.

Budget staff cautioned that the city's available discretionary funds are limited this year. Karen Pratt, the budget officer, told the committee the judgment-and-losses fund "currently has $0 in it" for some items listed on the wish list, and that the city must replenish certain funds after last year's allocations. Committee members repeatedly noted that available funds are short of total requests.

No formal vote or allocation was taken during the session; the topic will return when the committee discusses funding sources in later sessions. Committee leadership said ERTC remains funded this year from ARPA for the current level and that council-level supplemental requests will be considered alongside other wish-list items.