Title
Title
Equal Access Fund | Distribution of Funding for Housing Issues (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Budget Act of 2021 (AB 164 Ting), chaptered July 16, 2021, includes $40 million of federal funding from the Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund of 2021 in the Equal Access Fund for distribution to legal services providers and support centers to assist with issues relating to housing matters including eviction defense or other landlord-tenant disputes, or services to prevent foreclosures for homeowners. The State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Commission requests approval of the distribution of $40 million, less administrative costs, according to the formula specified in the Budget Act.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission recommends that the Judicial Council, effective, October 1, 2021 direct staff to:
1. Distribute Equal Access Housing Funds to the State Bar for distribution to legal services agencies that meet the eligibility requirements stated in the Budget Act with 75% of the funds by formula and 25% through a competitive RFP process; and
2. Report back to the Judicial Council at its March 2022 meeting on the grants made.