South St. Pete CRA seeks to deploy eviction, probate assistance
Stacks of unpaid bills leave families scrambling to play catch-up as they could be evicted. The pandemic’s impact on the economy and inflation has exacerbated the crisis and the City of St. Petersburg is trying to meet the needs of residents and landlords.
During a Wednesday Citizen Advisory Committee South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area meeting, the majority of the members voted to support the recommendation of two assistance programs. The recommendation calls for a grant amount of up to $300,000 in tax increment financing to provide funding through the Affordable Single-Family Homeownership Program and Eviction Prevention and Probate Assistance Program.
“This came about during Covid and it was suggested by some council members that we entertain a program of this nature,” St. Pete Economic Development Officer George Smith said at the meeting. He worked with the city attorney on crafting the language of the initiatives.
The eviction assistance program was not designed to pay the owed rent. The program’s purpose is to help maintain a person’s healthy financial record and aid those facing eviction.
Currently, the existing Community Law Program, a 501(c)(3), provides free legal services to eligible residents and certain nonprofits.
However, the new eviction assistance program would not be restricted by household incomes. Attorneys would offer legal advice, negotiate payment schedules, discuss relocation agreements, represent tenants throughout the eviction proceedings and mitigate the harsh eviction record.
Through the program, $95,000 would go toward hiring a full-time attorney to provide eviction protection services. Additionally, the city would funnel $5,000 to cover court fees and other costs.
Second to the eviction prevention effort is the recommended probate assistance program. The program was created as hundreds of properties are not in the current occupant’s name, but rather a family’s member name. Often, that family member is deceased, and the title has not been cleared.
Smith said they have discovered 348 properties that are under different names other than the current occupants, according to information from the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s Office.
The 348 estates that could be eligible for the probate assistance program. The CRA has not yet reached out to these residents. Image: City of St. Petersburg records.
Those eligible for probate assistance must earn 120% or lower of the Area Median Income (AMI).
The CRA is recommending allocating $200,000 to hire probate attorneys and legal assistants.
One member stated how developers will get subsidies for affordable housing and that when a family is in jeopardy of losing their home, there needs to be continued support for both parties – and the $300,000 amount in the eviction assistance fund may not be sufficient.
Smith said he is unaware of a statutory limitation on the funding amount, but the next step would be to speak with administration to evaluate how it could be collected and disbursed.
With the approved recommendation of the two initiatives, Smith said he expects the St. Petersburg City Council to review the programs and language later this month.
Nancy
September 10, 2023at4:37 pm
I agree with your comment, Jonathan. Giving them nothing but financial assistance without programs to help with job skills, self esteem, etc. keeps them stuck in the same place. It is a disserve to anyone in that situation. People should be empowered, then we will all live together more harmoniously.
Nancy
September 10, 2023at4:34 pm
The eviction assistance needs to happen at the beginning of the process when the tenant gets the initial notice on their door. If that does not happen, then there may be a lot of court costs involved and the case could still be lost. Help needs to be given to those who make the effort to do something quickly, rather than waiting until the eviction has been filed and they are days from final eviction. That way there can be arbitration and dialogue with the landlord to see how this might be worked out with some kind of stipulation agreement, job placement, and financial assistance. Everyone will be on better terms to work something out if it is addressed in a timely manner, instead of when it is almost too late. Free legal counsel for tenants is a great thing because many tenants do not know their rights, but legal defense late in the game does not make much sense in most cases.
Mark Litton
September 8, 2023at7:32 pm
Who sits on the citizens advisory committee? Were they unanimous in their voting? For any article that you post you should always name names. Also hiring more than one probate attorney plus legal assistance for $200,000 will not even come close to funding necessary
Jonathan
September 8, 2023at4:52 pm
I think the solution is to help people gain skills so they can afford their lifestyle. If someone has an interest in learning plumbing, electrical,medical coding etc why are we not helping these folks gain skills. There are programs to help with that as well. Many folks are not working because they cant keep a job wheather it be due to drug/alcohol abuse, attitude of not going to/ eff it attitude. Why are we not funding real counsling programs like good with me to help people realise they are worthy and should care about theor health and well being and accept themselves and improve themselves. We are already paying for tons of folks to be on housing voucher programs that is not working if it is just enabling them to not have to work. We are looking at this situation wrong. As someone who works in the housing industry I see it first hand.