THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND FAMILY SUCCESS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Board's Value of "Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable," and the Goal to "Deliver evidence-based services to the public, and connect customers and their family members, to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial supports."
The Agreement provides a framework for the administration of annual funding for legal aid programs as part of the County's court-related functions funding.
County funding of legal aid programs is addressed in Florida Statutes Section 29.008 and Section 939.185. Section 29.008(3)(a) provides that the County must fund legal aid programs at a level equal or greater to that provided from filing fees and surcharges in fiscal year 2003. Section 939.185 allows the Board to adopt an additional court cost not to exceed $65 to fund local requirements, including the legal aid programs. The County may use 25% of the amount collected under that court cost provision to fund legal aid programs. The County must fund any remaining portion of the legal aid obligation under Section 29.008(3) from general funds. The amount of funding for each fiscal year is determined in the appropriate annual budget.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc. (LASBC) provides legal services to indigent and needy residents requiring legal assistance. That assistance includes services such as advocacy, arbitration, forms assistance, class action litigation, legal counseling, domestic relations including dependent children, landlord-tenant disputes and home-ownership preservation. LASBC was the legal aid program funded in fiscal year 2003, and it was at the time the only free civil legal aid program in Broward County. LASBC has provided these services since 1973. LASBC is still the only entity in Broward County that qualifies to receive this funding.
LASBC projected outputs for Fiscal Year 2018 include serving at least: (1) 400 individuals/families facing eviction or termination of tenancy agreement; (2) 200 residents with home ownership preservation issues; (3) 100 dependent children in need of an appropriate permanency goal; (4) 100 undocumented immigrants and victims of domestic violence, violent crime, abandonment, abuse or neglect.
Outcomes from the previous Agreement have been attained, and the same outcomes apply to the new Agreement:
At least: (1) 50% of customers facing eviction will either avoid eviction or negotiate a termination of the tenancy; (2) 50% of customers with home ownership preservation issues will avoid loss of their homes; (3) 40% of dependent children will attain an appropriate permanency goal; (4) 50% of undocumented immigrants will avoid deportation or facilitate family reunification; (5) 50% of lawful permanent residents will avoid deportation or finalize their immigration status.
The Agreement may be renewed for up to four additional years based on budgets approval for each Fiscal Year.
The Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney and as to insurance requirements by the Risk Management Division.
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