Council approves $1.475 million to expand legal representation for tenants facing eviction

Columbus City Council approved an ordinance authorizing up to $1,475,000 in grant funding to Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio to provide full legal representation to unrepresented tenants facing eviction in Franklin County Municipal Court.

The program—described by council as the Tenant Advocacy Project—will use $975,000 from the general fund and $500,000 from ERA‑2 funds, according to the ordinance text read into the record. Council members said the legal representation investment prevents homelessness and reduces downstream public costs; the council president cited a commission study the city distributed showing an estimated $4 in community savings for every $1 invested in tenant counsel.

Legal Aid officials told council the program began in 2017 and has expanded from informal intake at the courthouse to a sustained representation model. Speakers from Legal Aid stressed that eviction filings have reached record highs in Franklin County and that representation helps families either keep housing or obtain time to relocate safely.

Outcome: The ordinance passed on second reading by roll-call vote. The legislation authorizes the Department of Development to execute grant agreements, promissory notes, mortgages and related documents with the nonprofit and includes an option to renew for one additional year.

Why it matters: Franklin County had a large number of eviction filings in the previous year; council framed the funding as both a homelessness-prevention measure and a fiscally prudent investment in reducing shelter, health and economic strains that follow eviction.

Ending: Council approved the appropriation and asked the Department of Development to proceed with contract execution and standard reporting terms for the grant.