Phoenix reports growing use of eviction legal services; staff outline outreach and data steps

Human Services Director Jacqueline Edwards told the subcommittee the City of Phoenix’s eviction legal services program — launched in January 2025 — is expanding but still refining intake and outcome reporting.

Edwards summarized eligibility and referral pathways: applicants must be City of Phoenix residents or city water customers with household income at or below 80% of area median income; services include mediation, limited and full legal representation, and post‑eviction assistance. Applicants can use an online form at phoenix.gov/evictionservices (English/Spanish) or apply by phone or in person at family service centers.

From January through August 2025 the program received 365 applications; 222 of those met eligibility and were referred to one of three contracted providers (Barton Mendez, Community Legal Services, Kronos Law). Staff said 115 applications were closed as incomplete, 23 were ineligible (most commonly because the submitter was not a City of Phoenix resident), and 5 were pending as of the August report.

Edwards presented closed‑case outcomes for January–June 2025: 76 closed cases with 89% (68) receiving limited or full legal representation, 9% (7) post‑eviction services and 1% (1) mediation. Of those 76 cases, staff reported that 74% (56 cases) had positive outcomes, including 18 dismissals; 29% ended with negotiated settlements. Staff said clients who obtained more time to vacate received an average of 11 additional days and that waived or reduced fees averaged roughly $668 per tenant in the sample shared.

Council members and public advocates pressed for clearer vendor reporting and standardized success metrics. Courtney Levinas (Arizona Multifamily Housing Association) said consistent definitions of "evictions prevented" versus other successful outcomes would help evaluate program efficiency; Edwards said the department has mandated a six‑page monthly reporting form from providers, cross‑references invoices to closed cases and is instituting monitoring visits to reconcile data.

City staff estimated an average of four provider hours per closed case at about $200 per hour (~$800 per closed case) and compared that to average rental assistance (about $1,200 per household) to illustrate potential cost‑benefit. Edwards also said staff will extend services through December 2026 based on current funding forecasts, initiate procurement for additional vendors in October and expand targeted outreach in high‑filing ZIP codes identified from Maricopa County eviction filings.

Why it matters: the program provides low‑cost legal representation that city and community speakers argued reduces long‑term harm from evictions; staff and advocates agreed rental assistance must accompany legal services to prevent filings upstream.

What’s next: standardize vendor data, focus outreach on the highest‑filing ZIP codes, complete procurement for more vendors and continue monitoring program outcomes.